For the second straight game, a stunning third period run propelled the Oklahoma City Thunder to a relatively easy 97-85 win over the Miami Heat on Monday night inside Chesapeake Energy Arena.
The Heat had drawn to within 55-51 early in the third and Russell Westbrook was struggling scoring the ball. Enough of that. Westbrook promptly made his next three shots igniting his team. By the time the run ended it was a 20-0 spurt with the game essentially decided. Westbrook either scored or assisted on every Thunder point in the run. In his 26 minutes of play, Westbrook’s line reads, 14-5-11.
OKC’s 6-1 start is the best ever beginning to a Thunder season. If you want to go back to when this team was the Seattle Sonics it’s the best start since 2004. It also marked the 400th win in Thunder franchise history which is the second fastest climb to the 400 win plateau for a franchise moving to another city. I think Syracuse to Philly was the fastest to 400 wins after a move if I read it right.
Domas Sabonis had his best game as a professional with his first double, double on 15 points, 10 rebounds, with four made threes.
Enes Kanter had a nice night with 24 points, 10 rebounds.
Victor Oladipo kicked in 17 points and appears to be getting more comfortable with every game.
Steven Adams and Andre Roberson were very good defensively and key to a Thunder defense which limited the Heat to a 36.9% shooting night. Miami’s big name center Hassan Whiteside was a complete non-factor scoring only five points. Dion Waiters, in his OKC return, went 1-9, scored two points, and received a nice response from the OKC crowd. Nice kid, wish him the very best, but he’s still extremely inconsistent.
My Three Stars of the Game… 1 Westbrook, 2 Sabonis, and 3 Kanter.
So here we are as Thunder fans sitting at 6-1 with the best record in the West and second best in the entire NBA so far into this very young season. The Thunder are a perfect 4-0 at home and somewhat the early season darlings of the league considering they’re doing this without Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka.
A great start by the Thunder. Billy Donovan has a point guard named Russell Westbrook with a core of kids who are competing hard every night and getting better every game. Different players are getting more involved offensively as Westbrook feels more comfortable with his supporting cast.
You could literally hear Billy Donovan shouting, “Move the ball,” to his team during that third quarter blitzkrieg. Move the ball, play smart team defense, stay healthy, and get some good bounces and this team could be pretty decent.
But know this, considering where this city was on July 5th, it’s a remarkable beginning to a basketball season and reminder when you have a bulldog point guard named Westbrook you can still be pretty good.
Toronto in Oklahoma City on Wednesday.