Even though two of the ‘Big Three’ didn’t play for the Thunder, its MVP performed as usual in his first preseason action this season.

The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Charlotte Hornets 122-116 Thursday in the team’s first home preseason game this season at the Paycom Center. Even though it’s the Thunder’s third preseason game, the NBA’s Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played in his first preseason minutes this season and played like his normal self.

Gilgeous-Alexander played 20 minutes, scoring 16 points on 7-9 shooting with five assists.

SGA led an attack in the first quarter that helped the Thunder build a 10-point lead leading into the second quarter.

Gilgeous-Alexander had 12 points in the first quarter, getting off to a fast start, like he did so many times last season.

‘I thought we came out sharp on both ends,” said Thunder coach Mark Daigneault. “I thought we had great carry over from training camp practices in the first quarter… I thought in the first quarter we were really, really sharp and really good.”

Gilgeous-Alexander, along with regular starters and role players such as Isaiah Hartenstein, Lu Dort and Alex Caruso, set a tone early for the bench players in the first quarter with a swarming defense. Guard Cason Wallace had three steals by the end of the game.

Daigneault said it’s no surprise to him to see his star players compete as hard as they did in a preseason game.

“We’ve got competitors, so you put them in a practice scrimmage, they’re going to try and win,” Daigneault said. “I think those guys that have been in the league now for some time kind of learned paces and they know the importance of these games in terms of getting themselves ready and getting the team ready, getting their teammates ready. And I thought they were in that mode from the jump tonight.”

Leading the team was Isaiah Joe, who scored 19 points, draining five 3-pointers.

He, along with other back-end role players like Jaylin Williams and Aaron Wiggins, came off the bench, but were able to play with the normal season starters and players that will be competing with the OKC Blue this season.

Joe said even though the Hornets were in it until the end, the Thunder stayed true to how they played all last season.

“I think we played our brand of basketball,” Joe said. “It was good to see the guys back in action that didn’t play in our first two games. Just to see everybody get out there, grow and work on their game and try and help the team win in anyway they can.”