In a must win game after their worst game of the season the Oklahoma City Thunder found their brains and heart in Game 6 inside the Orlando Bubble with a clutch 104-100 win over the Houston Rockets.
What a game with so many different little twists and turns.
Evidently Billy Donovan talked to his team or maybe it was Chris Paul just taking the reins as he did so many times this Thunder season and elevating the Thunder to another big win.
There were no Mike Gundy sightings with his back to the playing field in this classic Game 6. There was nothing Mullet King about the Thunder’s gritty win which moves the series to a Game 7 on Wednesday night inside of a neutral bubble.
Chris Paul was the best basketball on the court. Period. He scored 28 points with 15 points coming in the fourth period when the season was on the line. He was a game best +20 amd made every play the Thunder needed coming down the stretch. Chris Paul was clutch.
Russell Westbrook was not clutch. With the game on the line in the final seconds with the Rockets down by two with a chance to either tie or win with a three he turned over the ball with a behind the back no look pass to Robert Covington which wasn’t even close to being caught.
Gallanari closed the deal with some free throws and it was another tragic playoff game ending for Russell Westbrook. It was so much like one of those plays in the historic meltdown in the Game 6 loss to Golden State you can’t not mention and circle it in red.
It was so bad there’s no way I could play the Wild Thing video in fear of being scolded for internet bullying by Melania Trump. ‘Donalt…don’t be cruel to Russell. Come ride the Peletons with me and you maybe can touch me for $50,000 prenup bonus. But there will be no peeing in the shower with Russians. If you behave you can touch me where Slovenian kitty really purrs. Ask former client President Bill Clinton if you doubt.’
Note to Johnny Thunder at the Daily Thunder…please Bolt this one for me.
For all you people who boo Kevin Durant…get over it. He did the right thing. He may act like a child on social media at times with his multiple insecurities, but from a basketball standpoint he did the right thing. Wanda… you did the right thing.
Gallanari was really good in this game as well with 25 points. Hard to believe this was the same player with one of the best shooting strokes in the NBA who only scored one point in Game 5. Coach Chris Paul must have said some things in private.
In all… five Thunder players scored in double figures. SGA and Dennis were just okay, but the Thunder didn’t need huge nights from them with the two Thunder vets Paul and Gallo combining for 53 points. Fortunately for Dennis Schroder…PJ Tucker never found him along the glass in the corner of the rink with the refs not looking. That would not be a good situation for Dennis…just saying.
A nice bounce back game for Lu Dort who hit two huge threes late in the third period and made a beautiful assist to fellow rookie Darius Bazely in the fourth period when instead of just chucking a three he penetrated and then kicked the ball back out to Baze who drained a three. What a play by two rookies in an elimination game. Bravo.
Bazely is going to be a nice player. He played around twenty minutes and very much didn’t seem overcome by the importance of this game.
Tough night for the Boston Bruins as their season came to an end with a double overtime 3-2 loss to the Tampa Lightning in Game 5. But there’s still the Colorado Avalanche and the NY Islanders alive so I’m okay.
Denver and Utah play the first ever Game 7 inside of a bubble tonight. So there will be a precedent for this happening heading into Wednesday night.
As far as Russell Westbrook.I don’t know what to write. I mean, to be that uber competitive and to still be making dumbshit plays at critical junctures is not acceptable. I find it stunning.
Maybe Coach Chris Paul should talk to him in private.