Thunder Gameday: OKC Looks to Sustain Rhythm Versus Atlanta

Oklahoma City will see the Atlanta Hawks for the second time this season on Wednesday evening.

As the Oklahoma City Thunder continue to roll through a tough patch in its late-December, early-January run, the team will meet the Atlanta Hawks on the road on Wednesday evening.

In the second night of a back-to-back — coming off an immense victory over the top team in the East, the Boston Celtics — Oklahoma City will be taking on an Atlanta team who’s 4-2 in its last six contests.

This will be the second game of the matchup’s season series, as Oklahoma City claimed a nine-point victory in their first meeting in early November.

ODDS:

The Thunder enter the day as 1.5-point favorites against the Hawks, and the total over/under is 247.5 points.

KEYS TO THE GAME:

The Thunder is coming into this contest as confident and contender-worthy as ever. 

Wins against the top teams in each conference, as well as the defending NBA champions, have displayed the potential this young and wealthy team currently has.

8-1 in its last nine games, the Thunder’s success and consistency has been reliant on its adaptability — and the team will continue to have to do that before a slew of back-to-backs in the month of January.

Wednesday night, the Thunder will have to fend off one of the highest level playmakers in the league, Trae Young, and a hot Dejounte Murray who averaged 21.4 points per game in December.

The Hawks as a whole, however, have only notched one win in its last five contests, but have also been able to keep those games within reason.

Last time the two teams met, Oklahoma City limited Young to just 5-of-18 from the field, but still saw 22 total points through help from the free throw line.

Murray on the other hand, he found his shooting stroke having six threes, tallying 29 points to lead the Hawks.

But a balanced rebounding effort, 40% from three and four starters with 15-plus scoring nights solidified the Thunder win — they’ll have to do the same Wednesday night, this time on the road.

Lastly, Oklahoma City must rely on its’ depth of talent. Continual back-to-backs are rough on each player, but especially the starters who front the physical load in minutes night after night.

For longevity — and entering in off a huge and taxing win versus the Celtics — the Thunder’s secondary unit will be vital.

RECORDS:

Oklahoma City Thunder (23-9) vs. Atlanta Hawks (13-19)

INJURIES:

Check out our live injury tracker, along with our game day injury report that will release later today.

WHEN:

Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at 6:30 PM CT

LOCATION:

State Farm Arena - Atlanta, GA

TV/RADIO:

Bally Sports Oklahoma, NBA League Pass, 98.1 FM The Sports Animal

FINAL WORD:

Oklahoma City’s five-game winning streak contains some very hard-fought wins to bolster the Thunder’s resume.

To continue to perform on a high level on the back end of a back-to-back, the Thunder must exert the extra effort to dial in yet again on Wednesday night.

Next, Oklahoma City will face the Brooklyn Nets for the second time in less than a week at 6:30 p.m. CT on Friday inside Barclays Center.

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