Sacramento Kings 114 – Oklahoma City Thunder 112
OKC did again what they’ve done better than any other team in the NBA this season, namely, finding a way to lose a lead entering the fourth period. So there’s something there in the Philadelphia Sixer fan in me to grasp onto I guess.
It was a fun game to watch though from an entertainment standpoint. Being it was the last game being played by the Kings at Arco Arena there was a feel of electricity in the building. Even without Rajon Rondo and even without Demarcus Cousins at the end sitting with six fouls these Kings did what most Kings very seldom do… they found a way to win a big game.
Darren Collison, Seth Curry, and Rudy Gay were the heroes. After letting OKC come back from seven down in the game’s final half minute to tie the game, Rudy Gay drove to the basket and drew a foul with one second left. He calmly made both and since OKC didn’t have a timeout left…ballgame.
Darren Collison basically did whatever he wanted against his old UCLA mate Russell Westbrook scoring 27 points on a 10-16 night from the field which included 4-6 from behind the arc. In other words, Russell Westbrook was the second best ex-UCLA guard on the floor Saturday night.
Since Sam Presti and Billy Donovan decided to lose the game in Detroit and end their eight game winning streak, the Thunder are 2-4 and once again leading the league in mentally lazy play, horrific turnovers, and adding to the perception there’s no reason to assume Kevin Durant could ever win a championship playing in Oklahoma City.
This one had nothing to do with starters being held out. Durant played 40 minutes, Westbrook 34 minutes, and Ibaka 29 minutes.
I literally have no idea what Sam Presti and Billy Donovan are doing. Josh Heustis was a DNP, yet I thought the whole concept of intentionally losing at Detroit to the minimalist punk Reggie Jackson was to rest the stars and give minutes to players like Cam Payne, Josh Huestis, and some others.
I can’t speak for every fan, but this Thunder fan would like to know if Sam Presti is unilaterally making these decisions or if Billy Donovan is going solo in his first ever NBA season and is just confused.
Like I wrote above, if ever there was a statement game for why Durant should leave to play for the Warriors or Spurs this would be one you could reference.
I thought of Perk at the end and how he always dissed the woeful, abysmal Sacramento Kings for being chokers. Thing is—this was the Kings second win over OKC this season and it should have been their third. Just a thought there as I visualize how Kevin Durant would look in a team picture with Seth Curry’s brother, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson.
Durant and Westbrook combined for 13 mentally lazy turnovers. On the night, OKC had 21 turnovers as a team. And being the Thunder were such gracious guests on this special Arco evening—the Kings scored 26 points off those OKC turnovers.
OKC is now 54-26 with two games remaining against the Lakers and Spurs. Their first round foe is yet to be determined. Maybe Memphis, maybe Portland, maybe Dallas. Maybe it doesn’t matter because dumb teams generally don’t make deep runs in any professional team sport.
Mike Jackson