There’s nothing like home cooking, and Hamidou Diallo proved that yet again with his second strong performance in as many games.
The Oklahoma City Thunder scored what could fairly be described as a feel-good win on Sunday night when they pulled out a comeback win against former Thunder Kevin Durant, whose Brooklyn Nets were no match for Diallo and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
To the tune of a 129-116 victory, the Thunder completed its five-game road trip having gone 4-1. For Diallo, the last two contests — against the Knicks on Friday and Nets on Sunday — were especially meaningful. Hailing from New York City’s borough of Queens, he was on friendly turf.
Comfortable, his play was quite impressive.
As it turns out, Diallo, who tallied 23 points and 11 rebounds against the Knicks on Friday, followed up his effort in that contest with 25 points, three rebounds, four assists and four steals against the Nets on Sunday.
For Diallo, per the Thunder’s public relations department, it was the first time in his three-year career that he recorded back-to-back 20-point games.
Aside from the strong play from the New Yorker, head coach Mark Daigneault has to also be very happy with the production of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Obviously the cornerstone upon which Sam Presti is attempting to rebuild his team, Gilgeous-Alexander also turned in a strong effort in Brooklyn. He ended Sunday night’s win with 31 points, six rebounds and seven assists.
In a great coincidence, according to ESPN Stats & Info, on Sunday night, Diallo and Gilgeous-Alexander became the first set of Thunder teammates younger than 22 years old to score 25 points or more in the same game since 2011.
The last duo to do so? Russell Westbrook and (you guessed it) Kevin Durant.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Hamidou Diallo are the first pair of Thunder teammates, both age 22 or younger, to each score 25 points in the same game since Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant in 2011. pic.twitter.com/byVPJ1W6OH
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 11, 2021
Strong play from Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t anything new. He’s clearly an emerging young star in the NBA.
Diallo, though? He isn’t regarded nearly as highly.
After a very productive weekend in New York, though, it’s fair to wonder whether the Thunder have a new 1-2 punch.
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