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Gonzaga Basketball

Former Gonzaga stars Domantas Sabonis, Kelly Olynyk thrive with new teams

Indiana’s Domantas Sabonis goes to the basket past Brooklyn’s Allen Crabbe (33), DeMarre Carroll (9) and Dante Cunningham in a Feb. 14 game. (Mary Altaffer / Associated Press)
Indiana’s Domantas Sabonis goes to the basket past Brooklyn’s Allen Crabbe (33), DeMarre Carroll (9) and Dante Cunningham in a Feb. 14 game. (Mary Altaffer / Associated Press)
By Jim Meehan jimm@spokesman.com(509) 459-5585

Domantas Sabonis and Kelly Olynyk have new addresses this season and the change seems to agree with the two former Zags.

Sabonis, who was part of the blockbuster trade that sent Paul George to Oklahoma City, has essentially doubled his production from his rookie season. He’s averaging 12.2 points and a team-high 8.2 rebounds in 25.4 minutes per game with Indiana.

He’s shooting 53 percent from the field and 33.3 percent on 3-pointers. He averaged 5.9 points and 3.6 rebounds as a rookie with the Thunder, where he was usually stationed outside the 3-point arc. The Pacers have used Sabonis more inside and in pick-and-rolls, which better suits the 6-foot-10 forward’s game.

Sabonis has started 19 of 59 games.

Olynyk, who signed with Miami after a four-year run in Boston, is averaging 10.9 points and 5.5 rebounds. He’s posting career highs in points, boards, assists and minutes played.

Olynyk has started 21 games. He’s shooting 49.3 percent from the field and 36.3 percent from distance. Olynyk, whose plus-minus rating leads the Heat, recently returned from a shoulder injury.