Degnot: Our emphasized standards will not change.

Despite missing several players due to injury, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 124-116 in the 2026/27 NBA regular season, thanks to contributions from Gilgeous-Alexander, Ajay Mitchell, and Bennett Stiglitz, and also swept Kenny Atkinson's team in the series. DeGnott stated that even in difficult situations, his team will not make excuses, and the emphasis on core player performance will remain unchanged.

According to the data, Gilgeous-Alexander scored 42 points and 8 assists in this game, Ajay Mitchell scored 23 points and 4 assists, while Bennett Stitz contributed 16 points and 1 assist for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach DeGnott stated, "We won't seek sympathy from others, nor will we make excuses for ourselves. We will accept our current situation and strive to perform at our best under these conditions. Our standards will not change, nor will our core requirements for the game. We remain consistent in these aspects, and so will the players."

“We try to do some of the basic details in the game one by one, focusing on the details that we can fully control, and getting the players to focus on those.”

When discussing the performance of new addition Bennett Stig, DeGnott said, "He is really good. He dares to shoot decisively and is always an offensive threat on the court. Moreover, he has shown considerable courage and boldness."

As for other young players such as Micah Pivi, Josh Dix, and Adai Mara, Degnot said, "These players are full of fighting spirit and know how to integrate into the team system, and they have also made progress in their basic skills. Therefore, they can play a role on the field and make positive contributions to the team."

Image source: Internet