Oklahoma City Thunder 119 — Toronto Raptors 100
THIS is the Oklahoma City Thunder team I’ve been wanting to see. I would rank tonight as one of OKC’s best overall games of the year as they basically toyed with the second best team in the East on their floor in a game the Raptors needed if they wanted to stay in touch with the Cavs for the No. 1 seed in the East.
Where do I start?
Let’s start with guard play. OKC’s triplets of Russell Westbrook, Andre Roberson, and Dion Waiters had what I thought was their ‘collective’ best game of the season on both ends of the floor against a Raptors guard tandem which is highly thought of around the league.
Westbrook was superb in collecting his 16th triple double of the season — 26 points, 11 rebounds, 12 assists. The ball moved and was taken care of with 29 assists versus 10 turnovers. Plus, I liked his overall court energy on the defensive end. Russell Westbrook is my No. 1 Star of the Game. This is what gives me hope OKC can steal a road game in the Spurs series in that there’s no reason Tony Parker can guard Westbrook. Physics. Not complex.
Roberson was really good tonight. His defense was key as Lowery and DeRozan went a combined 12-36 from the field and only managed 33 points on the 36 shots. Plus, in 25 minutes he scored 9 points. I call those bonus points with Roberson. Anything beyond four points with Roberson are a bonus. Roberson was my No. 2 Star of the Game tonight.
My No. 3 Star of the Game was Dion Waiters. For the third time in the last four games he was good. Three steals, good quickness and energy on defense, plus 15 points on a 6-10 night in 28 minutes.
If Billy Donovan could bottle the 53 combined minutes Roberson and Waiters gave him tonight and bring it to the arena every night OKC would have a puncher’s chance against the Spurs and Warriors. Roberson and Waiters were excellent.
Kevin Durant scored 34 points with 8 rebounds and 8 assists, but you know what, this is what I expect from a generational player in a big game setting and unlike Nickie Gallo on the post game ‘interview’ (sigh) — I’m not gonna get down on all fours and his lick his feet. This is what you expect from your superstar. Good game from Durant, but I expect the same thing in Detroit tomorrow night because I really don’t want to see that goofy grin on Reggie Jackson’s face after 48 minutes of play.
Interesting stat. OKC improved to 10-4 tonight on the first night of a back to back. On the second night of back to backs OKC is 7-9 if I heard Matt Pinto right. I’m too tired to look it up—so I’m going with it. BTW…I enjoy Matt Pinto’s work. He doesn’t just lap dance the two super stars. He says it like it is. Nickie Gallo and Royce Young would be well served to follow Matt Pinto’s lead a little more and leave the blatant homering to Brian Davis and Michael Cage.
Enough of the Thunder media critique.
The Thunder played great tonight.
Eighth straight win and I liked what I saw tonight in the eyes of Billy Donovan and his team. They played with a chip on their shoulder and a competitive anger which has been missing from this team at times.
I’m not one of these types who moans about Reggie Jackson, but I’d love for Durant, Westbrook, and the Thunder as a whole to run the streak to nine with a win in Detroit tomorrow night.
Good win, build on it tomorrow night in Detroit..
Mike Jackson