Being on the same page with Nikola Topic, Ajay Mitchell ran past halfcourt to receive a deep inbound pass. The 23-year-old enjoyed a rare dunk as the backcourt duo outsmarted the opposition for the easy bucket before halftime.
Mitchell finished with 20 points on 6-of-13 shooting, five rebounds and two assists. He shot 2-of-5 from 3 and went 6-of-7 on free throws. He also had two steals and a block.
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The Oklahoma City Thunder collected a 90-81 Summer League win over the Brooklyn Nets. It’s the latest example where Mitchell looks too good to be at the multi-week July event.
Ball security was a problem with six turnovers, but the scoring remained top-notch. Mitchell has hunted out his shot throughout the Summer League. He knows he’s the Thunder’s best scorer. And after an NBA Finals appearance, beating a bunch of young players and bubble NBA talent in one-on-one looks must feel small in comparison.
“I think it’s just coming out here and competing. I’m not trying to do too much or too little,” Mitchell said on his SL mindset. “Just being myself and competing with my teammates.”
The 23-year-old did most of his damage in the first half with 14 points. He drove to the basket and earned plenty of free-throw trips. That’s been a theme throughout the Summer League. When the Thunder needed points, they relied on their best scorer to do so.
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Heading into next season, the Thunder could rely on Mitchell and Topic for their backup guard minutes. This Summer League has showcased the chemistry between the two as the starting backcourt. You’re seeing that grow in real time with nonverbal cues and figuring out each other’s strengths.
“It’s great. It’s our first time playing together, so it’s awesome to learn how to play with him and just know his game very well. It’s a great experience for me. I love it,” Mitchell said about Topic. “Just his IQ, really. The way he can find guys and play at his own pace. It’s rare to see that at a young age like that. He’s 19 and being able to do that. He impress me for sure.”
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: After NBA Finals, Ajay Mitchell continues to dominate Summer League