For the fourth straight game, Corey Brewer scored in double figures and gave some life to what previously was a moribund Thunder squad. On Monday night inside the Peake, Brewer played just under thirty-three minutes, scored 16 points, and threw his body around like a skinny version of Andre Roberson in a 106-101 win for the Thunder.
For those not keeping track the Thunder are now 3-2 in the Corey Brewer Era in Oklahoma City.
Actually, I applaud Billy Donovan for giving Brewer these kind of minutes and coming to terms with the limitations of Alex Abrines and Josh Huestis. Yet, in this game, Abrines did hit two impactful threes in six minutes of play and had a positive effect on the outcome of the game. This is exactly what Abrines should be…a pinch hitter of sorts with limited exposure as far as minutes. Good for Billy Donovan. I can be content the rest of the Thunder basketball season.
Russell Westbrook tripled doubled for the 20th time this season. Paul George and Carmelo Anthony went a combined 14-32 from the field and made some shots unlike they did in the San Antonio game. George and Anthony went a combined 9-16 from beyond the arc and as a team the Thunder went 16-36.
Steven Adams played, but was ineffective as Dave Joerger played a sagging defense to make the Thunder shoot from beyond the arc. So, really, it was a game where Adams wasn’t needed all that much.
OKC improves to 40-29 and for the first time this season is eleven games above the .500 mark. The Thunder sit as the No. 4 seed in the West as they prepare to play the Hawks in Atlanta tonight.
You might want to take a look at the standings this morning as the San Antonio Spurs are in the No. 10 hole. No Kawhi Leonard will kind of do that to you. Even Pop isn’t immune from the First Rule of Coaching…Player Makes the Coach.
Very clear what the Thunder need to do tonight in Atlanta against a bad Hawks team, that being, bear down and get to twelve games over the .500 mark.
Hope Corey Brewer has some life left in legs because this Thunder team very much needs what he can bring to the arena every night in what we’re seeing as a skinny version of Andre Roberson who can actually shoot the ball a bit.