Branden Carlson makes up for lost time as he helps Thunder clinch Summer League playoffs

Running a pick-and-roll with Nikola Topic, Branden Carlson showed off his hops when he jumped in the air and threw down the alley-oop. Everybody has talked about how much better the former would look with a seven-footer. The latter showed why those talks were right as they cosplayed as prime Chris Paul and Blake Griffin.

Carlson finished with 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting and seven rebounds. He shot 4-of-6 from 3 and went 1-of-1 on free throws. He also had two blocks.

The Oklahoma City Thunder enjoyed a 92-75 win over the Orlando Magic. It helped them reach a perfect 4-0 record in Las Vegas and clinch a 2025 Summer League playoff spot.

An ankle injury cost Carlson the beginning of the Summer League. He sat out the Thunder's first five games but had a productive absence when he signed a two-way deal during it. The 26-year-old showed off why they were so determined to keep him on their roster when they tendered a qualifying offer.

Against a short-handed Magic squad, Carlson made up for lost time. He dominated at every spot on the floor. The stretch big was a textbook kick-out option and the seven-footer's size helped him finish through a packed paint with dunks.

The Thunder have given fans reasons to watch these final Summer League games. Carlson flashed throughout last season and dominated in the G League. His combination of size and shooting caused broadcaster Isiah Thomas to spend most of the second half wondering why nobody else saw his talent as a 2024 undrafted player.

"It felt great. Missed being out on the court. It's good to be out there and play some games again," Carlson said. "... I felt like I just went out there and played my game. I've been with some of these guys around, so I kinda know how to play with each other. So I felt ready and easy to get right back into the groove."

If the Thunder collect two more wins to get a Summer League ring, Carlson will likely play a big role in that. With Topic and Ajay Mitchell likely done the rest of the way, OKC's two two-way players in Carlson and Brooks Barnhizer must step up.

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Branden Carlson helps Thunder clinch 2025 Summer League playoffs