Overview
- On Thursday Mara started at the Paycom Center and scored 22 points on a flawless 10-for-10 from the field while adding six rebounds and one block in 25 minutes.
- Across his first two preseason games he is 15-for-15 from the field and has scored 34 points, an early indicator of his finishing and efficiency near the rim.
- Coach Mark Daigneault credited Mara's conditioning work between Summer League and preseason and called him an impactful player who has earned quick trust from teammates.
- Mara started because Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams were out, and veterans such as Jared McCain and Alex Caruso publicly praised his play and locker-room fit.
- The Thunder's 128-126 loss after blowing a 24-point lead leaves open questions about team cohesion and late-game defense and makes Mara's preseason surge a factor to watch when coaches set rotation minutes.