Indiana point guard Jeff Teague led the Pacers to 115-111 overtime win over the Thunder on Sunday evening inside Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Pacers were playing without star forward Paul George, but it mattered little as the Pacers jumped out fast and led most of the evening with the Thunder starting slow from the gates.
A Russell Westbrook three with two seconds left in regulation sent the game to overtime, but once the extra session began it was Jeff Teague as the Pacers pretty much were in control the entire five period.
Too many careless turnovers in the first half for the Thunder. Twelve of them in all as the Pacers not only benefitted from points off turnovers, but a big night at the free throw line as well where they shot 24-31 as a team. Jeff Teague was 9-9 and Myles Turner was 10-11. OKC was 13-18 from the line as a team with Westbrook only getting to line five times. OKC had 101 shots from the field, whereas the Pacers took only 89 shots for the night. Rebounds and assists were pretty much even, but a big storyline was Indiana outscoring the Thunder by 11 points from the line.
Russell Westbrook carved out his fifth triple double of the season with a line of 31-11-15, but it took him 34 shots to get his points going 13-34 from the field. Conversely, Teague got his 30 points on a 9-16 night.
OKC’s starting five as a whole didn’t play good enough is the storyline. Victor Oladipo was the only other starter in double figures with 14 points. Not nearly enough from Adams, Roberson, and Sabonis against a team which was without its best player.
Enes Kanter was OKC’s second leading scorer with 16 points. Jerami Grant did some nice things. Lauvergne and Abrines were okay. OKC’s bench wasn’t the problem.
In reality, an ugly game for the OKC starters as Oladipo’s shifts were altered somewhat due to backup point guard Semaj Christon not being available with a concussion, but that can’t be an excuse. As with the Orlando game, this was a game OKC really needed to put in the win column at home. These two games might be two we look back on come April as the Thunder are trying to get the highest seed possible.
OKC drops to 8-6 and head west for a Tuesday game against the Lakers who aren’t of the dumpster fire variety so far this season. The Lakers are 7-7 under Luke Walton and playing much better as a team without Kobe Bryant.
Happy Special Day to you! 🙂