Just when you were ready to throw in the towel for this Thunder basketball season the Thunder responded with their best 17 minute stretch of play this basketball season since maybe before the All-Star break.
Another loss would have been devastating to the whole feel of the season and seemed probable after another lethargic first half of play. But finally somewhere around the mid-point in the third period… the Thunder found some heart and played at a high level of basketball which if they could bottle would take them on a nice playoff run this spring.
As wasn’t the case two nights ago in OKC– in these last 17 minutes the Thunder did everything right and didn’t look like the Bad News Bears.
They made stops. They made free throws. They made threes. They got to the loose balls first. They did the big and little things and they got it from four guys who were doing this the before the All-Star Break, but not as much after the break.
Paul George was the MVP candidate again. He brought his big boy game. He led and steadied the team when it needed balance. PG scored 28 points on 17 shots and was 5-10 from the field.
Dennis Schroder was once again the player I had hanging around Lou Williams for the Sixth Man of the Year award before he experienced the joy of becoming a father. Schroder was my MVP in this game. He brought his A game and when he brings this game to the arena the Thunder are a different animal. Schroder had 26 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists.
Jerami Grant added 19 points on five made threes and for the Thunder to get beyond the first round he needs to be this type of player. Grant has been on a roll of late and when he gives the Thunder this type of production it helps Russell Westbrook make better decisions.
Terrance Ferguson had been slumping since the break, but chipped in with 11 points and went 3-7 shooting threes. This is what the Thunder need from Ferguson. Namely—someone to make several threes and play some respectable defense.
Russell Westbrook tripled doubled for the 28th time, but more importantly seemed calmer and in a better place with decision making even though he struggled shooting the ball on a 6-20 night.
The Thunder improve to 43-30 and for the time being are still the 5th seed in the West with a road game on Monday night in Memphis the next game up.
At this point all of the seeding in the West is still up in the air because if you haven’t noticed the Denver Nuggets with nine games are tied for first with the Golden State Nuggets.
My advice to the Thunder is not to worry about the seeding and just bear down for 48 minutes and this will take care of itself.