An excellent game between two teams who bolstered their rosters this past off season to compete for the Western crown. It would not be a shock at all if these two teams finish No. 4 and No. 5 in the regular season and find themselves battling each other in the first round.
OKC fought back from a double digit deficit in the fourth quarter behind Russell Westbrook hitting five threes and even took a 113-112 lead with 5.9 seconds left when Westbrook beautifully facilitated Carmelo Anthony on a made three from the left wing, but with no timeouts left Minnesota inbounded to Andrew Wiggins who lost Paul George on a moving screen set by Karl Anthony-Townes and banked in the game winner just past half court.
Tough loss for the Thunder who now drop to 1-2 on this young season. But this is a loss where you feel OKC did take a step forward as Westbrook asserted himself yet made the beautiful play to Carmelo with the game on the line. Good game for Steven Adams with a 17 point, 13 rebound night. A game by Carmelo which seems more in line with what his role should be on this team. An excellent game by Raymond Felton who is giving the Thunder what they never had last season… namely, an effective backup point guard. The usual array of contribution plays by Jerami Grant who at some point might need to supplant Andre Roberson.
A tough shooting night for Paul George who went 6-20 and a very tough night for Andre Roberson. But there were positives in this game which gives hope the team is starting to feel more comfortable playing together.
OKC’s record doesn’t worry me because the West is a beast. The Thunder could very well be hard pressed to win 52 games in the regular season when all is said and done, but the important thing is for this team to get better every time out and be playing their best ball coming down the stretch. The West is just so tough, so very tough this season. The Thunder better be ready to play every night out because there’s not many games on the schedule which are gimme wins. If OKC could be 5-5 after the first ten games and having the look of a team which is figuring things out I’d be okay with it.
Indiana Pacers in town on Wednesday night with Oladipo and Sabonis.