Thunder Week In Review Times Three: 1/18-2/7
As you may have noticed, there was a lack of a Week In Review the past couple of weeks. I wanted to let my readers know that I haven’t forgotten about them, which is why I’m bringing you a special Thunder Week In Review Times Three. So, let’s get started recapping all of the games that I haven’t touched on yet, culminating with the most high-profile Thunder game of the year to this point.
This one starts with a continuation of the season series with the Nuggets. The best the Nuggets could hope for a this stage was a season series tie, as the Thunder took the first two games. The first game resulted in a 117-93 Thunder victory on Nov. 1st, 2015 that saw Enes Kanter post a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double. The second game ended with a 122-112 Thunder victory on Dec. 27th, 2015 that saw Russell Westbrook post a 30-point, 12-assist double-double.
Final. 104. 73. 110. 149
This game started off with both teams trading shots. However, with the Thunder up 14-12 at the 7:01 mark, the Nuggets sparked an 8-0 run that gave them a 20-14 lead with 5:40 to play in the 1st. The Thunder cut the lead to 22-19 with 4:12 remaining in the quarter, only for a subsequent 7-0 Nugget run to extend their lead to 29-19 with 2:28 to go in the period. While the Thunder would cut into the lead a bit, the Nuggets took a 31-25 lead into the 2nd quarter.
A Danilo Gallinari step back jumper with 0.6 seconds left in the 1st quarter turned into another 8-0 Nugget run to extend their lead to 37-25 with 10:58 to play in the first half. The Thunder would finally go on a 23-9 run to take a 48-46 lead with 3:52 remaining in the half. Shot trading would ensue for the rest of the quarter, but the Thunder were still able to extend their lead to 57-53 by halftime.
After a Westbrook driving layup extended the Thunder lead to 59-53 a mere 30 seconds into the 3rd quarter, the Nuggets hit on a 15-4 run to take a 68-63 lead with 7:19 to play in the period. The Thunder would subsequently fire back with a 17-5 run to claim an 80-73 lead with 2:32 to go in the quarter. The Nuggets would work for the remainder of the quarter to chip away at the lead, but the Thunder still took an 84-79 lead into the 4th.
Denver continued to chip into the lead as the game wore on, cutting the Thunder lead to 90-87 with 8:07 to play. Unfortunately for them, the Thunder would push them away with an 8-0 run that put them ahead 98-87 with 5:08 remaining. That run was the difference maker, as the Thunder pulled out a 110-104 victory that gave the Thunder a 3-0 season series lead, and moved the Thunder to 31-12 overall. The final game of this season series will take place on April 5th.
Durant finished with a 30-point, 12-rebound double-double to go with Westbrook’s 27-point, 12-assist double-double. Steven Adams was good for 10 points, while Serge Ibaka was good for 10 rebounds. Kanter lit it up off of the bench, dropping 25 points.
Kenneth Faried posted a 17-point, 15-rebound double-double. Gallinari finished with 27 points, Emmanuel Mudiay dropped 13, and Gary Harris dropped 11. Joffery Lauvergne was good for 12 points off of the Thunder bench.
With no rest night in between, the Thunder came back home to defend their house against the Hornets. The Hornets were looking to end this season series in a tie after dropping the first game in the series on Jan.2nd. The Thunder won that contest 109-90 with help from Durant’s 29-point, 11-rebound double-double.
Next: Thunder Sweep The Hornets