Oklahoma City Thunder 130 — Boston Celtics 109
After starting the post All-Star break at 4-8, the OKC Thunder have stabilized somewhat with their second straight blowout win over a playoff team by routing the Celtics on their home floor by a score of 130-109 on Thursday evening.
OKC looked relaxed, confident and prepared to atone for their 100-85 loss in Oklahoma City back in November.
Kevin Durant went 28 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, +30 and is my No. 1 Star of the Game. Westbrook scored 24, Kanter 17, and Ibaka 14 to lead a balanced scoring attack for the Thunder. OKC’s bench scored 55 points on the night as Randy Foye had his second straight double figures game. I thought it was Foye’s best game as a member of the Thunder.
Cam Payne actually played twenty plus minutes and appears to be working the rust off his game as Billy Donovan seems to maybe now all of the sudden agree with most of us on Payne. As in there’s no reason for him to be rotting on the bench.
Morrow looks to be in the same boat as his shot is starting to come around as well. It marked the first time Dion Waiters played since his brother was killed in Philadelphia last week.
OKC improves to 46-22 overall and 19-13 on the road for the season, but more importantly still has a 2.5 lead over the Clippers for the right to not play Golden State in the second round of the Western Conference Playoffs.
A good win for OKC. Like the Portland blowout win, this is what the Thunder are capable of when they focus and play up to their potential.
Fourteen games left for OKC in the regular season and this trend of play needs to continue for the Thunder if they have hopes of a meaningful run at reaching the Western Conference Finals.
I’m not going to say OKC has turned a corner or anything, but the overwhelming cloak of tragedy which has been draped over this team since the break seems to have lifted.
OKC in Philly on Friday night to play my tanking Sixers. Not sure I really view Ben Simmons as a game changer, but these guys love to tank so they can deal with it as they continue to bumble in rebuild.
Mike Jackson