The Oklahoma City Thunder wrapped up its 2021-22 season by securing the fourth-best lottery odds with a 138-88 blowout loss to the LA Clippers on Sunday.
The Thunder entered the game with its best-case scenario being attaining sole possession of the fourth-best odds due to a Detroit Pistons loss with the worst-case scenario being it ties for the fourth-best odds with the Indiana Pacers.
The Clippers — who were without Paul George, Reggie Jackson, Marcus Morris Sr. and Norman Powell — thoroughly dominated this game. There was no funny business this time around as the Clippers led by double digits for almost the entirety of the game.
Meanwhile, the Thunder stuck by its extremely shorthanded rotation by only playing six players with five of them playing over 40 minutes. In all likelihood, most — if not all — of the players who touched the floor this game will not return for the Thunder next season. But give them credit for going out there and playing heavy doses of minutes recently as the team tried to lose as many games as possible to maximize its lottery odds. Let’s take one final look at player grades for the regular-season finale.
Isaiah Roby: B+
When you reach being sat down due to a fear of winning a game territory, then that’s a good indicator on where you stand with your NBA career. Isaiah Roby experienced this on Sunday as he played just 18 minutes due to him scoring 16 points on 7-of-15 shooting.
The Thunder needed to lose this game to secure the fourth-best lottery odds and the team could not afford for Roby to win them another game. No half measures for the Thunder this time around.
Zavier Simpson: B
To Zavier Simpson’s credit, he finishes his 10-day tenure with the team on a high note as he collected 17 points, eight assists and nine rebounds in 45 minutes. Simpson’s signature hook shot was well on display during his short tenure with the team as most of his shots were those. Simpson likely won’t be back on the Thunder roster for next season…