OKC Thunder 112 — Memphis Grizzlies 94
Despite being ruled out for OKC’s game against Memphis, Kevin Durant returned to the Thunder lineup against the Grizzlies. Durant struggled in the first half going 2-10, but got going in the second half to finish with a 26 point, 17 rebound night in leading the Thunder to an easy home rout of Memphis and a season series 2-1 win over the disjointed Grizzlies.
Even with Durant struggling early, it didn’t matter because Mike Conley was out with an Achilles injury and Memphis was horrible in both halves. It was an ugly, ugly game if you’re a Memphis fan. Add to the fact, Conley’s usual guard partner Courtney Lee left the game in the third period with a hip injury after going scoreless in twenty-one minutes to that point. So what we’re saying here is that a team which struggles nightly to score points got nothing from two of their better offensive players.
OKC led 56-36 and the game was essentially over at halftime even before Durant rebounded with his strong second half performance. As I wrote, Memphis was bad without Mike Conley, but even worse when you throw in Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph combined for twenty points on a combined 7-24 night from the field.
The only conceivable bright spot for Memphis was Super Thunder Slayer Mario Chalmer leading the Grizz in scoring with 23 points. Sounds like a great name for a new video game.
OKC’s bench was excellent in this game, especially Dion Waiters and Anthony Morrow. This may have been Waiters’ best game of the season as far as all around play. Billy Donovan has been pleading for this type of performance from Waiters during his recent shooting slump and tonight the coach got what he wanted from the player.
In thirty one minutes, Waiters scored 15 points on a 6-9 shooting night, and added three assists for good measure. Dion Waiters is my No. 1 Star of the Game. This is what the Thunder need from Waiters consistently. This type of contribution.
Anthony Morrow was solid and would be my No. 2 Star. In eighteen minutes of play, Morrow scored 14 points on 3-4 shooting.
Cam Payne added 8 points and 3 assists. Enes Kanter chipped in 9 points in twenty-two minutes. OKC needs more from Enes Kanter though– considering his new contract pays him roughly $213,000 per game. If you’re going to pay a guy $17.5 million, then you need to get a bang for your buck.
Overall, OKC’s bench contributed with a fifty point night. Give the bench an A- for almost excellent minus Kanter’s so-so night.
Great no look, back door pass from Steven Adams to Andre Roberson. Ironic, the Play of the Game was provided by the two most offensively challenged players on the floor from either team.
Not much else to take from this game other than Russell Westbrook looked calmer with his running mate Kevin Durant back on the floor. The whole team looked better, calmer, more poised, and in sync—but that’s the way any basketball team should look when their best player is back on the floor with them instead of sitting with a sore toe.
Memphis looks lost and better hope Mike Conley isn’t sitting out too many more games.
OKC’s Thunder improves to 25-11, but the storyline has changed a bit with the LA Clippers winning again and now on a seven game winning streak. Clippers remain only two games behind OKC in the battle for the No. 3 seed.
OKC’s needs to be winning games if they prefer playing San Antonio over Golden State in the second round. Something to look at in standings for Thunder fans because the Warriors and Spurs have separated and are in pursuit of other regular season milestones which don’t include the Thunder.
Mike Jackson