The Oklahoma City Thunder is certainly glad to have Ajay Mitchell back from injury.
After getting hit with an abdominal strain on the 21st of January, on route to working his way back, he also picked up an ankle sprain, which caused him to miss seven weeks, ultimately missing 20 games.
Mitchell made his return to the court Monday night and picked up right where he left off, scoring 24 points on 9-of-16 shooting and a +11 in 29 minutes of action.
Ajay Mitchell Immediately Shows His Importance for the Oklahoma City Thunder
Mark Daigneault had high praise for Ajay Mitchell’s ability to quickly and smoothly flow right in despite his 20-game absence:
“I think anytime a guy comes in and is in that much rhythm and is in that much shape, it’s a testament to all the invisible work they do to get themselves back to that point.”
Mitchell’s return comes at the perfect time for OKC, which still maintains a narrow lead over the San Antonio Spurs for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and the best record in the NBA. The Thunder knows as well as anyone the importance of securing home-court advantage throughout the postseason.
It’s out of their control how the rest of the standings shape out — but OKC controls its own destiny — and one thing is clear: the Thunder want to secure the No. 1 seed and home-court advantage throughout.
Mitchell, who not only provides secondary creation to the Thunder but also effectively solves their half-court creation issues with his ability to initiate offense by breaking down defenses, getting to his spots for easy baskets, or creating open looks for his teammates. Factor in him being an automatic paint touch. He will obviously be a vital piece for the team with championship aspirations.
The Thunder have the fourth-toughest remaining schedule and are in the midst of a very tough home stretch, which includes Denver on Monday night, Boston on Thursday night, and Minnesota on Sunday afternoon to round out their homestand.
With a month left in the regular season, the timing of Mitchell’s return is also perfect, as it allows him to get in sync before the playoffs fully.
Mitchell has had a breakout year for OKC, as he has played in 44 games, to go along with nine starts, averaging 14.3 points on 49% shooting from the floor, 35% from deep, and 87.5% from the free-throw line, to go with 3.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 steals on the season. He’s been a revelation in the backcourt for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, as he changes the dynamics of the offense, ascending into the No. 2 offensive option this season, in an area where it’s absolutely crucial for the Thunder.
OKC will need Mitchell to be at full form and continue to perform at that level if they wish to repeat as champions. It’s undeniable that his importance is much greater than most thought at the beginning of the season. And if the Thunder repeats, Ajay Mitchell will ultimately be the X-factor.
Main Image: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
