​SALT LAKE CITY — The OKC Thunder fell to the Utah Jazz in their final Salt Lake City Summer League game on Tuesday, 103-69. OKC was without all three of its 2026 NBA Draft selections — Aday Mara, Bennett Stirtz, and Otega Oweh — while Josh Dix led the Thunder with 16 points and four rebounds. Here are three takeaways from the contest:
Mara, Stirtz and Oweh did not play in the Thunder’s last Salt Lake City tilt. The absence wasn’t surprising given that Tuesday’s game was the third in a four-day span. Utah’s Darryn Peterson, the No. 2 pick in the 2026 draft, also sat out. Oweh did not escape the game entirely unscathed, as he was spotted wearing a boot on his left foot after injuring himself in OKC’s loss to Atlanta the previous night. The Thunder have not yet announced how much these three will participate in the Summer League when the team heads to Las Vegas. OKC’s schedule in Las Vegas includes games against the Los Angeles Lakers (July 10), Golden State (July 12), Denver (July 14), and Dallas (July 16). Thunder interim head coach Daniel Dixon explained that rest decisions are part of a fluid plan: “We have a plan that’s always fluid, so we always continue to talk about those things. Those (other) guys got a great opportunity today, and I thought they took advantage. That’s part of Summer League. We’re grateful for those opportunities for those guys to step out there, be in different roles and be in different situations. Those are all valuable.”
On the court, Payton Sandfort had a standout performance in Monday’s loss to Atlanta, finishing with 25 points off the bench on a 6-for-10 shooting clip, including 4-for-6 from beyond the arc. But Tuesday proved to be a different story for the sophomore forward. After draining an open 3-pointer early in the second quarter, he ripped at his jersey in frustration, splitting the collar in half. He had to switch from No. 16 to No. 45 at halftime, and the change did little to spark him. Sandfort finished with zero points on 0-for-9 shooting in 20 minutes of action. It was one of those rough evenings, but his ongoing role as a floor spacer remains a key asset for the Thunder as they head into Las Vegas. The club later waived Sandfort briefly, only to bring him back for Summer League play in Las Vegas. He remains a leading candidate to stretch the floor and provide shooting depth for OKC this summer.
In the loss to Utah, Dix’s involvement was limited, and the ball rarely found its way into his hands for extended stretches. Still, his strength as a shooter and his ability to space the floor are valued assets as OKC looks to maximize its lineups in Las Vegas and beyond. The Thunder will need continued development and consistency from their cast of young players as they transition to the next phase of Summer League play.