Thunder did some growing up while on pause, and it shows in big win over Jazz

By Erik Horne Aug 1, 2020 11
Chris Paul took off his mask before answering questions Saturday, so there was no discrepancy about what he felt when asked about the Thunder’s youngsters. Paul’s smile took over his face, and he beamed like a parent who’s watched his kids hit a growth spurt in the summer months.

The Thunder’s season was put on hold on March 11 amid the coronavirus pandemic. It returned Saturday with a comprehensive 110-94 win against the Utah Jazz.

In that 4 1/2-month span, the Thunder’s handful of players born in 1998 or later all had birthdays, with Darius Bazley turning 20 years old, Luguentz Dort turning 21, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Terrance Ferguson and Hamidou Diallo turning 22.

Aside from Ferguson, who played his first minutes late in the fourth quarter Saturday when the game was essentially over, each player was crucial in the Thunder’s dominance of the Jazz.