Despite Victory Over Suns, OKC Thunder Rebounding Struggles Continue

Oklahoma City played well on Sunday night in Phoenix, but still had to overcome a few deficiencies to escape with a win.

The Oklahoma City Thunder moved to 6-4 this season on Sunday night, earning an impressive 111-99 victory over the Phoenix Suns on the road.

OKC's win over Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and company was a great win for the Thunder, and proves that the team is ready to compete for a playoff spot in the Western Conference this year.

Despite the victory, some of Oklahoma City's biggest weaknesses showed up once again, including the team's struggles on the glass. 

The Suns grabbed 51 rebounds while the Thunder snagged just 33, including 16 offensive rebounds for Phoenix and just six for OKC. Off the bench, Drew Eubanks and Keita Bates-Diop each recorded four offensive rebounds, giving the Suns multiple second-chance opportunities. 

On Friday night when the Thunder played Sacramento, the Kings out-rebounded Oklahoma City 52-38. OKC hasn't won the battle on the boards since the team took down the Pistons on Oct. 30, when the Thunder grabbed three more rebounds than Detroit.

So far this season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren are the only Oklahoma City players to average more than six rebounds per game. Last season, 6-foot-8 point guard Josh Giddey was a major factor on the glass, but his rebound totals have dropped from 7.9 per game last season, to 5.7 through 10 games in 2023.

The Thunder should get a boost on the boards when versatile veteran Kenrich Williams returns to the lineup. While Williams isn't a big-man, the 28-year-old is physical, crafty and plays with relentless effort that helps him secure rebounds and loose balls.

In 2022-23, Williams averaged a career-high 4.9 rebounds per game and was a key role player for the Thunder. Currently dealing with back spasms, the TCU product has yet to appear in a game for OKlahoma City this season.

Once Williams returns to the court, however, OKC's rebounding should improve slightly and the team will be even better on defense. 

Additionally, second-year big-man Jaylin Williams is still working his way back into the lineup after dealing with an injury of his own to start the season. 

As the year progresses, there is a good chance that Mark Daigneault and company figure out a way to solve the Thunder's problems on the boards. There is also a chance, however, that Oklahoma City doesn't have the size to be able to compete on the glass with some of the bigger teams in the NBA.

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