Boston Celtics 100- OKC Thunder 85
If ever a game illustrated why Russell Westbrook and the OKC Thunder are not a viable contender without Kevin Durant–this one might be a candidate for the topic file. Every nightmare of Durant’s missed 55 games from last season resurfaced in the fourth quarter on Sunday evening as the Boston Celtics won the fourth period 28-11 and in the process the game by cruising to a 100-85 win over the Thunder inside the Chesapeake Energy Arena.
This isn’t complex to break down. OKC led 52-45 at halftime, but were throttled 55-33 in the second half as every bad fourth quarter from last season without Durant was relived.
OKC still led 74-72 after three periods. But Billy Donovan had to give Russell Westbrook a blow. Westbrook sat till the 7:30 mark of the fourth period. Upon his return the scoreboard read: Celtics 85- Thunder 76 and it didn’t get any better after Westbrook’s return.
Pick your adjective to describe the Thunder in the fourth period on Sunday night. Horrific. I’ll go with horrific.
Boston won the fourth period by a score of 28-11. OKC as a team shot 2-17 from the field in the fourth. Boston cruised. OKC imploded. Boston’s offense was a precise combination of ball movement, flashing to the ball, cutting and finishing as per the Brad Stevens system. OKC looked exactly the same as they did last season under Scott Brooks…stagnant, disjointed and too much ball domination by Westbrook, Waiters and DJ Augustin. Boston played the way their coach wants them to play, OKC did not.
Former O State guard Marcus Smart is my OKCThunderGround Player of the Game. If ever a coach might be the right fit to pull out of Marcus Smart his full potential—it should be Brad Stevens in the long haul in Boston. Smart went for 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists and was the best player on the floor Sunday night.
But it wasn’t just Smart, Boston has a nice trio of guards in Smart, Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley. Thomas went for 23 points himself. Bradley went for 16 points and combined the guard trio went for sixty points. They’re fun to watch.
Russell Westbrook struggled on Sunday night going 5-20 from the field, but 15-17 from the free throw line to salvage a 27 point night which rang hollow in the end. Too many missed threes and too many turnovers. OKC had 18 assists to 18 turnovers. Not what Billy Donovan is looking for either with or without Kevin Durant.
Again—if ever a game was a microcosm of why Kevin Durant makes Russell Westbrook better and vice versa this would be the template. Westbrook can triple double like no other player in the NBA, but when it comes to those last eight minutes in a tight game against a quality opponent he needs his finisher and closer.
Kevin Durant—get the hamstring well, buddy.
OKC drops to 6-4 and is in Memphis tonight on the second night of a road back to back.
Mike Jackson