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Weber State basketball: Dillon Jones gets first NBA start with Oklahoma City

Utah native Carlson scores career-high against 76ers

By BRETT HEIN - Standard-Examiner | Mar 19, 2025
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Oklahoma City's Dillon Jones, right, contests a driving Philadelphia guard Quentin Grimes (5) at the rim Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in Oklahoma City.
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Oklahoma City forward Branden Carlson looks on during a game Jan. 14, 2025, in Philadelphia.
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Oklahoma City forward Dillon Jones dribbles during a game against Brooklyn on Jan. 19, 2025, in Oklahoma City.

The youngest of Weber State’s two NBA players notched a milestone Wednesday night.

Dillon Jones got his first career NBA start with the Oklahoma City Thunder hosting Philadelphia; the league-leading Thunder sat five or more starters/rotation players against the sliding 76ers.

Jones notched a few career-highs and missed one more, and the Thunder dominated from the jump for a 133-100 victory. OKC is now 57-12.

In his usual do-it-all fashion, Jones totaled 11 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals in 35 minutes. That gave the 6-foot-5 rookie his most minutes, assists and steals in a game while just missing his career scoring high of 12. In the fourth quarter, Jones made a 3-pointer from the left wing and converted two free throws after drawing a foul cutting through the paint.

The Thunder’s TV broadcast gave Jones the team’s assist of the night, a no-looker from the top of the key to Chet Holmgren for a dunk early in the third quarter.

Another Utah rookie got a chance to shine alongside Jones. South Jordan native and former University of Utah center Branden Carlson netted 16 points and six rebounds in 23 minutes, all career-highs.

For non-Utah watchers, 22-year-old Jaylin Williams was the story for the Thunder. The third-year player notched his second triple-double in his last six games, totaling career-highs of 19 points and 17 rebounds to go with 11 assists.

The teams combined to cast up a combined 109 3-point attempts. Carlson made three and Jones two of OKC’s makes in a 24-of-52 effort. The 76ers shot 18 of 57 from deep.

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