Aday Mara delivered 12 points, 9 rebotes, 3 asistencias y 3 tapones in 18 minutos during his preseason debut for the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Spanish center started the game at the BOK Center in Tulsa, anchoring the frontcourt as the Thunder dropped a 116-110 decision to the New Orleans Pelicans.
Efficient First Half Output
Mara posted a flawless shooting performance before halftime, converting all five of his field-goal attempts and sinking both free throws. Playing exclusively through the first two quarters, the 2,21-meter big man helped Oklahoma City build a 15-point lead by intermission. Head coach Mark Daigneault kept his rookie on the bench for the entire second half as the Pelicans rallied to secure the six-point victory.
Complementing his perfect scoring efficiency, Mara impacted the contest on both ends of the floor. He corralled nine rebounds, swatted three shots, and distributed three assists in his 18 minutes of action, finishing as the Thunder’s second-leading scorer and top rebounder behind Bennett Stirtz, who tallied 15 points.
Oklahoma City Misses Three Primary Cornerstones
Oklahoma City played without three of its primary cornerstones: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams. Those absences cleared a path for younger players and newcomers to log extended minutes. Meanwhile, New Orleans featured Zion Williamson in the starting lineup, with the forward contributing 11 points on 16 field-goal attempts.
Sportaragon.com highlighted that the former Michigan standout arrived in Oklahoma City following an NCAA championship run, entering his first professional campaign with high expectations after being selected 12th overall in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Next Steps on the Preseason Schedule
The Oklahoma City Thunder continue their NBA preseason schedule with upcoming matchups designed to evaluate roster depth ahead of the regular-season opener. Mara will look to secure a consistent role in Daigneault’s rotation as training camp exhibitions proceed.
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