ATLANTA — For fans wondering where OKC’s eighth man was Wednesday night, he was on the bench. Kenrich Williams racked up a DNP.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault cited that his decision to sit Williams wasn’t for rest so much as it was a chance to give other guys playing time.

“We’ve got a lot of guys that we trust," Daigneault said after the Thunder's 141-138 loss to the Hawks. "There’s guys that I’ve wanted to get some run for. (Jaylin Williams) in particular, getting him a little bit more than short bursts. (Aaron) Wiggins, getting him more. Lindy Waters is a guy who we have a lot of faith in who we haven’t played a lot to this point.

“I don’t think it’s fair to anybody to play them all seven minutes. So, it’s better to get somebody a night off.”

Daigneault making similar decisions isn’t new. He isn’t known for a fixed order, only for what he refers to as rewarding guys for the way they practice and such. What might take some aback is him sitting Williams — a fixture in the rotation — after the Thunder’s recent win streak and change in aspirations.

The Thunder’s start and its uncharacteristic defense buried the team well before Williams could’ve. With how close OKC ended up becoming and with the way Atlanta’s frontcourt muscled its way to 12 more boards, surely it could’ve used him.

Days away from meetings with the withering Washington Wizards and the middling Brooklyn Nets, it’s a choice that’ll resonate with those who already felt like debating Daigneault’s rotations.

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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Why did Kenrich Williams sit for OKC Thunder in loss vs. Atlanta Hawks