Thunder vs. 76ers takeaways: Tre Mann leads OKC past Philadelphia in NBA Summer League

SALT LAKE CITY — Tre Mann had an admittedly difficult sophomore season, and while three summer league games won’t erase those struggles, Mann can hold his head high after putting the finishing touches on a dominant Salt Lake City Summer League campaign.

Mann hit the biggest bucket of the game Thursday to lead the Thunder to a 100-91 win against the 76ers. In a game in which the Thunder led by 31 points, Mann’s triple with 2:12 left in the fourth quarter quelled a Sixers comeback.

The Thunder, now onto Las Vegas Summer League, went 2-1 in Salt Lake City. In those three games, Mann averaged 23.7 points on 55% shooting. Mann went 10-of-24 (42%) from behind the arc. If a tournament MVP was awarded, Mann would have a strong case.

“I’m trying to find better shots, and I felt like that led to me being more efficient,” Mann said. “That was my main key coming in, trying to be poised and play with a good pace and show my maturity. I’m proud of the way I did that. A couple turnovers that I could’ve cleaned up … but for the most part I feel like I was real poised.”

Mann scored a game-high 23 points Thursday on 7-of-15 shooting. He had eight rebounds and five assists.

More: Tre Mann looks great in NBA Summer League, but where does he fit in OKC Thunder's future?

Ousmane Dieng settles in

Ousmane Dieng gradually improved over the Thunder’s three games in Salt Lake, capped off by a superb performance Thursday against the Sixers.

“I think I got better yesterday and today,” said Dieng, who scored 22 points on 10-of-12 shooting.

The Thunder coaching staff wants Dieng to play with “force.” In other words, make his presence felt. Inject himself into the game.

Dieng did that Monday. He looked like a more comfortable, confident version of himself.

“Offensively he had a mismatch playing the five,” Thunder Summer League coach David Akinyooye said. “I thought he did a good job of initiating our offense as well.”

Dieng, who played minutes at center in the absence of Chet Holmgren and Jaylin Williams, had 10 rebounds, three steals and three assists.

He also had a team-high nine turnovers. The Thunder, down a few primary ball handlers, had trouble icing the game.

Non-roster players get chance

Thursday offered a cool opportunity for non-roster players like Caleb McConnell, Hunter Maldonado, KJ Williams, Jaden Shackelford, Zhaire Smith and Jahmi’us Ramsey to play significant minutes for the Thunder.

Maldonado, a six-year player out of Wyoming, and Williams, who transferred from Murray State to LSU, both started.

“We played a bunch of those guys today, and those guys were ready, came in and played the right way,” Akinyooye said.

More: Which OKC Thunder player stood out most in Salt Lake City? Start with Jalen Williams

Zhaire Smith shines

Five years ago, Zhaire Smith was taken 16th overall in the NBA Draft.

But by his second season, the former Texas Tech star was out of the league. He appeared in only 13 games for the 76ers. He dealt with injuries, and at one point was hospitalized for several weeks due to a severe allergic reaction.

Smith is fighting to get back in the league, and he showed out for the Thunder on Thursday night.

Smith, a non-roster invitee, scored 16 points on 6-of-6 shooting.

Cason Wallace: game-time decision

Would Cason Wallace play?

It looked that way when the Thunder, including a dressed-out Wallace, ran out of the tunnel for warmups. But when the starting lineups were revealed, Wallace’s name was missing.

Shortly after tip-off, the Thunder ruled Wallace out. OKC’s draft-night trade with Dallas to acquire Wallace with the 10th pick had been made official, but Wallace’s rookie contract with the Thunder had yet to be processed by the league.

Thursday was the first day Wallace could sign with the Thunder, but the paperwork didn’t get finalized before tip-off.

Wallace stayed in uniform, though, and sat in the middle of the Thunder’s bench.

The rookie guard out of Kentucky is expected to make his Summer League debut Saturday in Las Vegas.

More: How did ex-Sooner Tanner Groves land with OKC Thunder for NBA Summer League?

Thunder tip-ins

● Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Jaylin Williams, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Keyontae Johnson were out for the Thunder.

● The Thunder coaching staff wore “heather orange” shirts. Sort of a pale burnt orange.

● The two teams combined for 46 turnovers in a 40-minute game.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder beats 76ers in NBA Summer League Salt Lake City finale