Oklahoma City put Aday Mara in the starting lineup on Wednesday. They played him beside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, McCain, Caruso and Hartenstein. Mara starts now. On November 12 against Portland the Thunder jumped to a 32-28 lead and held on for the win. Mara helped beat Washington. His play has helped the team deal with injuries.

Rudy Gobert talked about Mara's play. He said the rookie stays calm on defense. Mara gives OKC more size in the front court. The team faces a full schedule with players out. Mara's consistent performance has been praised. His ability to stay composed have been noted. The Thunder's teamwork has been praised. Mara's performance has been appreciated. His ability to play through injuries has been notable. The Thunder's strength in depth has been praised. Mara's performance has been noted.