Oklahoma City Thunder 111 – San Antonio Spurs 97
Series tied at 2-2
It was a combination of good things for the Thunder in the fourth period on Mothers’ Day night inside the Chesapeake Energy Arena. First and foremost the Thunder entered the fourth trailing 81-77, but instead of withering and shrinking from the moment…the Thunder roared like a lion.
Make no mistake about this, if the Thunder had lost this game their season was over. It was a time for the stars to lead, yet get others involved. Mission accomplished on multiple fronts.
Kevin Durant was superb tying his career post season high with 41 points of which 17 came in the fourth period when the Thunder got it going and won the fourth by a score 34-16.
Durant was 14-25 from the field and looked like a player who could be talked about as being one of the three best players on the planet in this game. He was unstoppable. He got to his spots, made his shots, and led his team to a win in a game they couldn’t lose.
Russell Westbrook had another horrible shooting night going 5-18, but he did other things, like making sure the stud hoss got the ball. Like making sure Steven Adams, Dion Waiters, Enes Kanter, and Serge Ibaka were part of the offense.
In all, five Thunder players scored in double figures. Adams double doubled with 16 and 11. Dion Waiters was magnificent scoring 17 points on a 7-11 shooting night. Enes Kanter scored 11 and snagged 8 rebounds.
Westbrook all told had 15 of the Thunder’s 23 assists doing what your point guard is supposed to be doing…namely, distributing the ball.
If Serge Ibaka had scored two more points the Thunder would have had six different players in double figures. Make this clear, the Thunder need Durant getting the most touches, but they also need Adams, Waiters, Ibaka, and Kanter involved offensively.
Randy Foye played the backup point guard minutes in the second half and chipped in five points after rookie Cam Payne went scoreless in his first half minutes.
Aldridge and Leonard both suffered tough shooting nights going a combined 15-37 from the field. Leonard and Tony Parker both scored 22 points on the night.
Of note, Tim Duncan went scoreless in a post season game for the first time in his career.
The series moves back to San Antonio for Game 5 on Tuesday night in what to date has easily been the best post season series so far this season.
Same things need to happen on Tuesday night. Stars need to lead, but at the same time give the other players a chance to get it going and keep it going.
Share the ball. Finish. Play their asses off.
If they do that and lose-no regrets.
Mike Jackson