Thunder Get a Much Needed Win Against Clippers

Oklahoma City Thunder 120 — LA Clippers 108

Behind Russell Westbrook’s monstrous triple double of 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 20 assists–OKC’s Thunder got a much, much needed win over the LA Clippers at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on Wednesday night. With the win OKC improves to 44-20 and increases its lead for the No. 3 seed to two and a half games over the Clippers.

It was night for reflection on Wednesday night as Clay Bennett sat next to an empty chair where Aubrey McClendon always sat at Thunder home games. There was a pregame moment of silence for Dion Waiter’s younger brother who was killed earlier this week in Philadelphia. For me at least, there were multiple things running through my mind which still made it entirely difficult to focus in on just the basketball aspect of Wednesday night. Yet, the Thunder behind Westbrook and Durant took care of business in a game they needed badly.

Does this change anything about the Thunder? I don’t think so. Golden State, San Antonio, and Cleveland still appear to be better, smarter ball clubs more tooled for serious runs at the O’Brien Trophy. While OKC looks to be in a grouping of teams with the Raptors, Clippers and maybe one other team from the East who have nice parts, but still not enough to win a championship.

But still, it was a night which somewhat calmed all the tragedy which has beset this franchise since the All-Star break. It was a night to be human and fully understanding of the fact basketball players are indeed humans with feelings and hurts just like the rest of us.

That won’t play big with the metrics crowd, but at the end of the day what’s in a player’s head and heart always out trumps there current real +/- or PER. Always.

Durant had 30 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists and was almost as outstanding as Westbrook. Ibaka continued to score in double figures and had 15 points. Adams was functional. And of all things—Andre Roberson was pretty darn good going an unthinkable 6-7 from the field.

Kanter scored 14 points in 17 minutes. Kyle Singler continued his solid play. Cam Payne did get in the game, but looked extremely rusty. Both Morrow and Foye played, but both continued to struggle from the field with their shot.

In all seriousness, from this point forward, I’m wanting to be kindler and gentler in my recaps. I won’t lie, this is personal for me thinking this could possibly be the last of Kevin Durant in Oklahoma City. It goes beyond just basketball. It goes to the core of I live in Oklahoma City and I fully know what Kevin Durant has meant to this city and this state as a whole. I understand what Aubrey McClendon meant to this city and that empty chair next to Clay Bennett left an indelible impression on me which only a person who lives in Oklahoma City can fully understand.

Don’t get me wrong, I could never live with myself being a sappy homer like some in this market, but however this goes, I just want to make sure I take in the human side of what’s left of this basketball season and enjoy it to the utmost.

Thunder host Minnesota on Friday night.

Now–onto that GOP debate in Florida tonight.

Mike Jackson