OKC Thunder drops Summer League game to Jazz as Aday Mara, Bennett Stirtz sit

SALT LAKE CITY The OKC Thunder dropped its final Salt Lake City Summer League game to the Utah Jazz on Tuesday, 103-69.

OKC was without all three of its 2026 NBA Draft selections: Aday Mara , Bennett Stirtz and Otega Oweh.

Josh Dix led the way with 16 points and four rebounds.

Here are three takeaways from the game: More: Aday Mara, Bennett Stirtz headline OKC Thunder storylines entering NBA Summer League play Order our book on Thunder's run to 2025 NBA title OKC was without Aday Mara, Bennett Stirtz and Otega Oweh Mara, Stirtz and Oweh did not play in the team's final Salt Lake City Summer League game.

It's no surprise, considering Tuesday's contest marked the third game in a four-day stretch.

Utah guard Darryn Peterson , the No.

2 pick in the 2026 draft, also sat out.

Oweh was seen wearing a boot on his left foot, though.

The former second-round pick (No.

41) sustained the injury during OKC's loss to Atlanta on Monday.

It's unclear how much the trio will play when the Thunder continues its Summer League run in Las Vegas.

OKC will face the Los Angeles Lakers (July 10), Golden State (July 12), Denver (July 14) and Dallas (July 16).

"We have a plan that's always fluid, so we always continue to talk about those things," OKC Salt Lake City Summer League head coach Daniel Dixon said about the decision to rest the trio.

"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." More: For OKC Thunder draft pick Otega Oweh, there is no place like home in Oklahoma Payton Sandfort went cold after sizzling showcase Payton Sandfort ripped the net throughout OKC's loss to Atlanta on Monday.

The sophomore forward racked up 25 points off the bench on 6-for-10 shooting from the field (4 for 6 from deep).

But on Tuesday, Sandfort was ripping his own jersey in frustration.

After missing an open 3-pointer midway through the second quarter, he pulled at his collar so hard that it split in half.

That forced Sandfort to switch from a No.

16 jersey to a No.

45 jersey at halftime.

But even a change in threads wasn't enough to change his luck.

He ended the game with zero points on 0-for-9 shooting from the field (0 for 7 from deep) in 20 minutes.

It was simply one of those nights for Sandfort, who has earned the right to keep shooting this summer.

He remains one of the best floor spacers on the roster entering OKC's four-game stint in Las Vegas.

More: OKC Thunder waives Payton Sandfort, brings him back for Summer League Josh Dix delivered his best Summer League performance yet The ball only touched Dix's hands for a brief moment early in the fourth quarter.

He was quick to release the 3-point attempt, which ultimately found the bottom of the net.

And he showed no hesitation throughout the rest of the game either.

After only scoring a combined five points on 2-for-7 shooting from the field (1 for 5 from deep) throughout OKC's first two Summer League games, Dix capitalized on his extra opportunities Tuesday.

He erupted for 16 points, four rebounds, two assists and one block on 6-for-10 shooting from the field (4 for 7 from deep).

It's an encouraging showing by Dix, who signed a two-way contract with the Thunder after not getting selected in the 2026 draft.

"We had some guys out tonight, so I was just trying to be more aggressive and find my spots," Dix said.

"I'm just being more aggressive and looking at the rim every time I catch.

I feel like my biggest weapon is shooting.

I'm stretching out defenses so other guys have lanes and stuff to drive." More: OKC Thunder signs Brooks Barnhizer, Josh Dix and Otega Oweh to two-way deals Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman.

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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder drops Summer League game to Jazz as Aday Mara, Bennett Stirtz sit.