Indiana Pacers 101 — Oklahoma City Thunder 98
The Indiana Pacers entered the fourth period down by nine on the road against OKC’s Thunder, but led by clutch threes from Myles Turner and Monta Ellis in the final minute—the Pacers stunned OKC 101-98 on Friday night inside the Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Myles Turner nailed his first three of the season from the right corner to tie the game 95-95 with 55.4 left in the game. Kevin Durant missed a three. Monta Ellis made a tough three with Dion Waiters somewhat draped on him to make it 98-95 with 18.8 left.
Westbrook missed a layup. OKC fouled and George Hill split a pair of free throws to make it 99-95. Billy Donovan burned OKC’s last timeout, but Durant hit a tough three to make it 99-98 with 5.9 seconds remaining.
Paul George hit two free throws with 5.1 seconds left, but without a timeout —Westbrook could get nothing better than a desperation heave just inside the midcourt line.
Pacers 101 — Thunder 98. Ouch.
This is not the way OKC wanted to start the post All-Star Game run. The Pacers are a nice team, but not one an elite team like the Thunder should lose to at home on a night when Russell Westbrook had 23 points and 18 assists. Throw in Durant’s 31 points, 8 rebounds and Ibaka’s 12 point, 11 rebound night and it’s hard to imagine OKC losing at home to a Pacer team which has been offensively challenged for the most part. But this is exactly what the Thunder did.
Most compelling stat of the night for me—Waiters, Singler, Kanter, and Morrow went a combined 8-31 from the field. Dion Waiters didn’t score a point in doing his best Andre Roberson imitation as the Thunder’s starting shooting guard. Yet, off the top of my head, I can’t remember many nights when Roberson couldn’t even score one basket.
There it is. Same old thing. Oklahoma City’s Thunder still struggling with the starting shooting guard position.
Hard for me not to give Westbrook my No. 1 Star of the Game, but I can’t, his team puked on itself coming down the stretch and lost at home to a team they had no business losing to on this night. I think I’ll go Monta Ellis with his 27 points and clutch play for my choice tonight.
So frustrating. To see Durant and Westbrook play at this level and yet Sam Presti not able to find a dependable starting shooting guard for this team.
Very tough loss because OKC’s next four are at home against Cleveland, on the road against Dallas and New Orleans, then home against the Warriors. Of OKC’s last 28 games, 17 are on the road, and the Thunder have the toughest schedule remaining of any team in the league.
LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers in Oklahoma City on Sunday afternoon in the national ABC game.
Mike Jackson