Richard Rowe-US PRESSWIRE

Yet again, the Dallas Mavericks held a lead in the final minute of the game. They led 97-96 before the Thunder hit four free throws.

Jason Terry hit a layup when down three, James Harden followed with two more free throws and the Mavs ended up with a shot to tie it with the shot clock off.

Terry missed two long 3-pointers at the buzzer and Oklahoma City held home court as they won Game 2, 102-99.

The game started out unusually as Kendrick Perkins scored seven of the Thunder’s first nine points. It looked like they were going to blowout the Mavericks during the second quarter when they took a 16-point lead.

Dallas brought the lead down to seven by halftime and took a lead just over four minutes into the third. From then on out it was a dogfight.

The refs called a very tight game; there were 54 total fouls, incredibly unusual for a playoff game. OKC shot 39 free throws to Dallas’ 32.

This series heads to Dallas for Game 3 on Thursday at 8:30 local time.

Kevin Durant- B     26pts/10reb/1ast/2stl

Very similarly to Game 1, Durant struggled to hit jump shots. Shawn Marion is a very solid wing defender, and has help Durant to just 34.1% shooting so far this series. Being the scoring champ, Kevin Durant is not going to shoot poorly forever, so it is a good sign that the team is winning despite his performances.

Russell Westbrook- B+    29pts/2reb/2ast

Westbrook played well on both sides of the ball tonight. He was put on Jason Terry and he shut him down for the most part. On offense, Westbrook was able to get to the rim and get fouled as well as hit the mid-range jumpers.

Kendrick Perkins- A-     13pts/6reb/1blk

I was really surprised by the beginning of the game. Perkins actually scored, and it was with efficiency. He ended up with 13 points on five shots. The Mavericks went small, which forced the Thunder to not play Perkins on Dirk that much. In 27 minutes, Perkins played some solid defense to go along with the weird scoring output.

Serge Ibaka- D     2pts/4reb/1ast/1blk

There wasn’t much to take from Ibaka’s game this time. He didn’t play all too much, and didn’t have an impact when he did. Again Ibaka struggled guarding Nowitzki out on the wing. He only blocked one shot and grabbed four rebounds to go with his two points. Not the best game for the young big man while he gains playoff experience.

James Harden- A     15pts/7reb/5ast/3stl

So far in this series, James Harden has taken 20 free throws, and only 14 field goal attempts. The Mavericks have not figured out how to prevent him from getting to the rim due to their lack of size in the paint. Harden is has been the X-Factor in these game by finding ways to score, even if he’s not hitting his shots.

Rest of the Thunder- B+

Finally the bench got it going. James Harden was the only bench player to score in Game 1, while in Game 2, the non-Harden bench scored 17 points. Derek Fisher led the way with 11 of his own, including a late 3 and a buzzer beater at the end of the first half. Fisher showed flashes from his previous playoff accomplishments, and he looks to continue to contribute positively to another title run. Nick Collison was assigned the task of stopping Dirk Nowitzki for most of the game. He was doing very well until fouling out with nine minutes left in the game.

Richard Rowe-US PRESSWIRE

Late in the first of what was expected to be among many playoff games for the Oklahoma City Thunder, they found themselves down seven points.

The defending champion Dallas Mavericks led 94-87 with two and a half minutes remaining in the final quarter. After that point, the Thunder held the Mavs to just four free throws, and forced two turnovers.

A fierce Serge Ibaka dunk while getting fouled gave the Thunder a one-point lead. Dirk Nowitzki took back the lead with two free throws with nine seconds left.

The Thunder set up Kevin Durant with isolation on Shawn Marion. Durant drove to the basket, pulled up from 15-feet out and released what would be the final shot of the game.

The ball arced towards the rim; it hit the back of the iron and bounced for what seemed like forever. Eventually, to the fans delight, the ball dropped through the net, giving the Thunder the 99-98 lead.

The Mavericks failed to get a shot off as the buzzer sounded.

After as close of a game as it gets, the Thunder took a 1-0 series lead. The first round continues on Monday for Game 2 in Oklahoma City.

Kevin Durant- B+     25pts/6reb/4ast/4blk

The reigning scoring champ came up in the clutch for the Thunder like he has all season. Durant did not shoot all that well throughout most of the game, but when it mattered he hit the shot that mattered most. Shooting just 10-27 from the floor did not deter KD from taking shots late in the game. It’s unlikely he continues to shoot poorly in the series, which will help the Thunder avoid close games late.

Russell Westbrook- A     28pts/4reb/5ast/3stl

As expected, Russell Westbrook played really well in this matchup. The Mavericks don’t have the defense at the guard position to contain Westbrook, and it showed. He was able to shoot over 50% while navigating through the Dallas guards. On another note, Westbrook did turn the ball over five times, but that can be expected when he handles the ball as much as he does. Look for Westbrook to continue to play well throughout the series.

James Harden- A-     19pts/6reb/3ast/1stl

It looked like the Mavericks didn’t know how to defend James Harden. Unfortunately the same can be said for Harden guarding Jason Terry. The battle of 6th men turned out to be pretty even. Terry scored 20 to Harden’s 19, both very efficiently (Harden had 7 FGAs, Terry 10). One of the reasons James has been so good this season was because he got to the line often. This game was no different as he attempted 10 free throws, making 9 of them.

Serge Ibaka- B     22pts/6reb/1ast/1stl/5blks

Quite the unusual game for Ibaka. On defense he did manage to block five shots, but was pretty poor in guarding Dirk. He still struggles outside of the paint, and may not be put on him for a majority of the series. Oddly enough, Ibaka was pretty dominant on offense. He scored 22 points on 9-12 shooting, including a 3-pointer to end the first half. Also he showed flashes of post moves that we really haven’t seen all season, which was a nice surprise. A performance like this, offensively at least, is what the Thunder need to win this series.

Kendrick Perkins- A     0pts/8reb/1stl/1blk

Looking at that statline you wouldn’t think Perkins played well. That was definitely not the case in Game 1. I actually love that he didn’t score, it’s not what the Thunder want or need him to do. He played BEAUTIFUL defense on Dirk down the stretch, one of the biggest reasons OKC won the game. Hopefully Perk is guarding him whenever he is in the game, because if he can shut down Dirk for the most part, the Thunder won’t have a hard time winning.

Rest of the Thunder- C

Only five members of the team scored, all starters except for Perkins, adding Harden. Thabo Sefolosha, Nick Collison, Derek Fisher, and Daequan Cook all played fewer than 20 minutes and had little offensive impact. Thabo spent put in some solid defensive minutes on JET and Delonte West while Collison did the same with Nowitzki. Nazr Mohammaed, Royal Ivey, Lazar Hayward, and Cole Aldrich didn’t see the floor.

Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

It was a career night as James Harden returned to Arizona, where he played college ball for Arizona State (boo!).

Harden scored his career best 40 points on just 17 shots as the Thunder take out the Phoenix Suns 109-97.

The Suns had four technical fouls, by Steve Nash, Sebastian Telfair, Robin Lopez and Coach Alvin Gentry.

Jared Dudley led the Suns with 21 points. No one else scored more than 13.

The Thunder continue their quest for the 1 seed Friday in Sacramento.

 Kevin Durant- B+     29pts/11reb/5ast/2blk

Going for his third straight scoring title, Kevin Durant got his due scoring 29 points in a game where it was all James Harden. He added 11 rebounds and a couple blocks in a big win that keeps the Thunder in the race for home court.

 Russell Westbrook- D     15pts/6reb/5ast/2stl

Westbrook struggled throughout the game, even getting benched for a while during the second half. He only played 31 minutes and shot at a 37.5% clip. It seemed like Russell, along with the rest of the team, just took a backseat tonight.

 Serge Ibaka- C     9pts/3reb/1blk

In just 18 minutes, Ibaka couldn’t have much of an impact on the game. He garnered just one block and only grabbed three rebounds. The Suns are a generally small team, so having Ibaka in there wasn’t helping them on the defensive end. Once he works on his perimeter defense, he won’t have to be taken out in these situations.

 Kendrick Perkins- B     5pts/9reb

The Thunder big men have not been a factor on the offensive end this year, but what they do is lock down the paint. Marcin Gortat, who scored 28 points in their last meeting, could not hit anything tonight. Thanks to the effort from Perkins and Ibaka, the Suns were forced to take their game to the perimeter, where they shot 6-20 from 3-point range.

 James Harden- A++     40pts/7reb/3ast/4stl

WOW! James Harden showed why he is going to be one of the premier 2-guards in the NBA for years to come. He was hitting on all cylinders tonight. Leading the league in TS% from the guard position, Harden scored with incredible efficiency. One of the main reasons he is able to take over a game is his ability to get to the free throw line. He made all 11 of his attempts from the charity stripe, to go along with seven rebounds and four steals. Great games like these from Harden are the reason the Thunder will be so dangerous in the playoffs.

 Rest of the Thunder- C+

I can’t stand Derek Fisher right now. He took seven shots and didn’t come close on any except for the one he made at the end of the first half. He’s in there to be a veteran and not make mistakes, not take shots he isn’t going to make. Nick Collison ended up playing more minutes than Serge Ibaka, and played well. A high motor guy who isn’t afriad to set a screen and take charges is a player that all championship teams need.

Richard Rowe-US PRESSWIRE

When Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook struggle, the Thunder aren’t going to win against quality teams like the Los Angeles Clippers.

They combined to shoot 10-35 from the floor, for 44 points.

Oklahoma City was leading throughout most of the game until they scored just 18 points in the 4th quarter. Durant hit a 3-pointer with 32 seconds to go to tie it up at 98, but Chris Paul followed with a layup to put the Clippers up for good.

The Thunder drop their 16th game of the season, which is tied with the Spurs in the loss column for first in the West.

Oklahoma City continues their chase for the #1 seed on Friday, when they face the Sacramento Kings.

Kevin Durant- C+     22pts/9reb/3ast/2stl

That last shot by Kevin Durant wasn’t the best available, but he loves that shot. Surprisingly, the Clippers managed to play quality defense against the MVP candidate, which goes against everything said about them this season. In the playoffs, Durant won’t have more than a game or two like this, so there isn’t much to worry about.

Russell Westbrook- D     20pts/4reb/7ast

Going up against on of the best defenders among point guards, Westbrook struggled to make shots. He shot more free throws than he did field goals, and had four turnovers. Not a very good game for Westbrook, overall.

Serge Ibaka- B+     12pts/7reb/1ast/3blk

Ibaka has been one of the bright points of this Thunder team throughout the season. He doesn’t seem to have many bad games, and is a consistent presence in the paint. He, along with Perkins and Collison, held Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan to just 24 points.

Kendrick Perkins- C     8pts/5reb/3ast/2blk

My HUGE pet peeve with the Thunder offense is that they, for some reason, think that giving the ball to Kendrick Perkins in the post, is a good idea. In no game, should he get nine shots. Otherwise, his defense was fine, and didn’t get in the way too much on offense.

James Harden- A-     17pts/5reb/2ast/1stl

After a little sloppy play early in the game, Harden settled in and was a good for the rest of the game. He hit 50% of his shots, and got to the free throw line seven times. It seems like the players are still recovering from the tough game in Miami.

Rest of the Thunder- B-

Derek Fisher managed to hit a couple shots early in the game, but didn’t play much in the second half. Nick Collison has become one of the best screen setters in the game, giving the Thunder open shots. Overall, it was not a very well played game by the Thunder, and they were still in it all the way through. They’ll be a top two seed in the West, so these games don’t mean too much right now.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE

Derek Fisher got his standing ovation and a video montage, and the Oklahoma City Thunder got another win over a championship caliber team in the Los Angeles Lakers.

Surprisingly, Fisher only played 11 minutes against his former team, when he played over 15 in each of previous four games.

The Thunder started off terribly, they showed little energy and got outrebounded by eight in the first quarter.

After a little better performance in the following period, and a Serge Ibaka jumper at the buzzer, the Thunder went into halftime with only a five point deficit.

Then, Russell Westbrook went off. He scored 17 points in the third quarter, including a long three as time ran out, to give the Thunder a 78-68 lead going into the fourth.

Los Angeles had no answer for Westbrook, as he scored 36 points in the 102-93 win for Oklahoma City.

Kevin Durant- B-     21pts/11reb/5ast/2blk

Kevin Durant struggled early tonight. He couldn’t find the bottom of the net, missing his first eight shots. Durant picked it up a bit in the second half and ended up with 21 points and 11 rebounds. He also picked up a technically, after complaining about a foul called against him.

Russell Westbrook- A+     36pts/1reb/6ast/2stl

Westbrook carried the Thunder to a victory with his 36 points, 27 of them in the second half. He showed his speed by blowing by Laker defenders for easy layups. The best part about Westbrook’s night was that he only had one turnover. Turnovers have big a big problem for him this year, and limiting teams to only a few fast break points is key to the Thunder’s success.

Serge Ibaka- B-     8pts/9reb/1ast/3blk

Not the best game for Serge Ibaka. There wasn’t much offense from him with his eight point showing. His defense was good for the most part, but because of Perkins playing really well, and the Lakers going somewhat small, Ibaka only got 19 minutes on the floor. Still he managed to block three shots and grab nine boards.

Kendrick Perkins- A     12pts/8reb/2blk

Again, Perkins had a nice game for the Thunder. He has been picking up his overall play recently, adding some offensive moves and scoring for the Thunder. Now I don’t think relying on him is ever a good idea, but it’s nice to get some production on both ends of the floor. On the defensive end, he along Nick Collison and Ibaka forced Bynum to work for his baskets; they played tough solid defense after the sloppy first quarter.

James Harden- C    9pts/2reb/4ast/1stl

Harden played the three at points in the game, which meant Metta World Peace was guarding him. This led to him struggling on the offensive end of the floor. Last game against the Lakers, Harden got in Kobe’s face after a big game. This time around he talked a bit after an early 3-pointer, but the Lakers’ lead shut down any attempts to talk trash by Harden.

Rest of the Thunder- B+

Thabo Sefolosha played some really nice defense on Kobe, forcing him to go 7-25 from the field. After a rough first half for Nick Collison, he really picked up his effort and defense, holding down the paint in his 20 minutes. Collison was a big factor in the Thunder’s rebound advantage, pulling down eight total, five on the offensive glass. Nazr Mohammed added four blocks, most of them on one possession.

Richard Rowe-US PRESSWIRE

In a potential Finals preview against the Miami Heat, the Oklahoma City Thunder played like a championship team tonight.

The Thunder moved the ball much better than usual tonight, and involved everyone on the team.

The game was close through the first quarter then the Thunder got going, and went on a run that led to an 11-point halftime lead.

The Heat only managed to get within eight points the rest of the way, as the Thunder cruised to a 103-87 win over one of the NBA’s premier teams.

Oklahoma City heads to Portland on Tuesday to face the Trail Blazers.

Kevin Durant- A+     28pts/9reb/8ast/2stl

Against the MVP-frontrunner, Durant showed the nation why he should also be considered for the award. Coming just shy of his first career triple double, he led the team to a victory over the preseason favorite to win the Finals. Durant got the ball moving, which is rare for the Thunder, a team that runs isolations as much as possible.

Russell Westbrook- C     13pts/3reb/6ast/3stl

It seems like every national TV game, the Thunder have to have somebody that has an off night. Tonight that was Russell Westbrook. He shot an abysmal 4-16 from the floor, scoring just 13 points, along with four turnovers. Part of the reason for Westbrook’s struggles was the fact that he picked up his third foul halfway through the second quarter.

Kendrick Perkins- A     16pts/6reb/2ast/1stl

What a wonderful game for the Thunder big man. Perkins recorded his season high in points, the most he’s scored since January 10^th, 2010, with the Boston Celtics. This is the first time he has had back-to-back double digit scoring games all season.

Serge Ibaka- A     19pts/10reb/1ast/1blk

For really the first time in a while, the Thunder had TWO big men score effectively. This is what the Thunder have been lacking to become a complete team. Ibaka’s jumper is starting to look automatic, and his inside defense is great as usual.

James Harden-B     19pts/3reb/6ast/2stl

Harden was great at some points, and not so much at others. When he was cast of the point guard, he facilitated well, moving the ball and involving everyone. To go with those six assists were a career high seven turnovers. If there is one team you don’t want to turn it over against, it’s the Miami Heat. You need to force them to beat you in the halfcourt, and giving them free points on fast breaks isn’t going to do that.

Rest of the Thunder- C

We didn’t see much of the bench, which should also happen once the playoffs come along. Derek Fisher played another 18 minutes, doing absolutely nothing, and Nick Collison gave the Thunder his usual hard work in his 19 minutes. When it comes down to it, the Thunder will have to play Durant and Westbrook 40+ minutes in the playoffs to get it done.

Richard Rowe-US PRESSWIRE

Wow. There are not enough adjectives in the English language to fully describe how awesome ThunderWolves was last night.

For the second time this year, the Thunder were involved in a game where there was a 50-point scorer, a 40-point scorer (two this time), and someone with a triple double.

Kevin Love scored a career and franchise-high 51, JJ Barea has 25 points, 14 assists, and 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves.

Russell Westbrook netted a career-high 45 points, followed by Kevin Durant with his second 40+ point game this season.

The game was highlights by three 3-pointers, the first by Durant with 3 seconds to go in regulation to take a three point lead. Kevin Love answered immediately, sending the game into overtime with a three of his own.

Then in the first overtime, Durant came up in the clutch again, hitting a game-tying three with 10 seconds left in the first extra period. The Thunder seemed to have all of the energy in the world, driving past the Wolves defense to pull out a nine point victory in 2OT, 149-140.

Minnesota was playing their last game of a seven game road trip, where they went 2-5, falling farther behind in the playoff race. Oklahoma City won two games in a row for the first time since March 7^th.

The Thunder have a day to rest, before Miami comes to town for a potential NBA Finals preview.

Kevin Durant- A+     40pts/17reb/5ast/3stl

There isn’t much of a race for MVP, with LeBron James having a historically amazing season, but Kevin Durant is doing all he can to get his name in there. This is only the 13^th time in league history that a player had at least 40/17/5, and the first since 2007.

Russell Westbrook- A+     45pts/4reb/6ast/2stl

Westbrook seemed to have all of the energy in the world, out there. In the second overtime, he was driving past a tired Wolves defense for easy layups, and giving the Thunder the energy they needed to finally pull away. Russell shot with wonderful efficiency, going 61% from the floor, and making all nine attempts from the line. This may have been the best game Russell Westbrook has ever played.

Serge Ibaka- B     8pts/9reb/2stl/5blk

Because of the Wolves smaller lineup, Coach Brooks decided to go small for a majority of the game. Serge only played 25 minutes of a 58 minute game. Still, the Thunder big man managed to block five shots, and grab nine rebounds.

Kendrick Perkins- B+     12pts/5reb/0ast/0blk

I was very surprised with Perk last night, for the first (and only third this season) time since February 10^th he scored more than 10 points. Making a contribution on the offensive end is very rare for Perkins, but it was nice to see. Along with Ibaka, Perkins got limited minutes due to the size of the Timberwolves.

James Harden- A     25pts/6reb/6ast/1stl

I love that Harden was given control of the ball late in the game. This is becoming more of a regular thing for the Thunder, and it usually turns out well. Harden has been a better passer than Westbrook, and can also create for himself. Harden scored his 25 on just 17 shots, and co-led the team in assists with six. Harden’s passing has really helped the bench get more involved in the scoring for the Thunder.

Derek Fisher- D-     5pts/2reb/3ast/1stl

Man, did Fisher annoy me this game. It seemed like he wanted to take every big shot like it was the 2004 Western Conference Playoffs. He was 1-10 before he finally made a meaningless 3-pointer at the end of 2OT. As I stated in the Fisher roundtable, he shouldn’t come near the ball in clutch situations, and the very next day, the opposite happens. I don’t understand why he was given 36 minutes, when Reggie Jackson DID NOT PLAY. Honestly I would have rather had Royal Ivey out there; at least he makes shots occasionally. Ahh, the Derek Fisher Experiment is going to be the end of me.

Rest of the Thunder (pretty much just Nick Collison) – B+

Collison played a great game, and is showing why he deserves 20 minutes a game. Harden and Collison make a good duo off the bench, and are really improving over the course of the year. Not Ibaka, not Perkins, but Nick Collison was left in the game during overtime. The Thunder trust him to do his job, and not make any crucial mistakes when on the floor. He scored 11 points, along with three of each, rebounds, assists, and steals.

Richard Rowe-US PRESSWIRE

Following the big news that Derek Fisher was coming to town, the Thunder run over the Los Angeles Clippers 114-91.

Durant led the way with 32 points on just 18 shots.

Surprisingly, Scott Brooks gave Fisher 20 minutes after joining the team today, also getting a standing ovation when entering the game for the first time.

The Thunder shot 54% from the floor, and went 21-22 from the charity stripe.

They continue their three-game stretch at home when Minnesota comes to town on Friday.

Kevin Durant- A+     32pts/9reb/5ast/2stl

Another MVP-esque game for the Thunder’s superstar. Durant was very efficient tonight, getting to the line 11 times, making them all, and only taking 18 shots. He had an advantage, due to the Clippers’ lack of defensive ability, with Nick Young having to guard him at times. Durant used his postgame very well, getting fouled and hitting jumpers over smaller opponents.

Russell Westbrook- B+     19pts/3reb/4ast

Russ started off hot for the second straight night, hitting his first three shots, and scoring nine first quarter points. The real story tonight though, was Westbrook’s defense on Chris Paul. He held the All-NBA point guard to just 13 points.

Serge Ibaka- A     15pts/8reb/3blk

I’m really loving Ibaka’s play as of late. He is doing everything right on both sides of the ball. Serge added another three blocks, which isn’t unusual and also helped hold Blake Griffin to his lowest career point total, 7. He is also getting much better on the offensive boards, which helps get some key points in the paint that the Thunder lack.

Kendrick Perkins- A     6pts/8reb/1ast/1blk

Finally, here’s a game where I don’t have anything bad to say about Kendrick Perkins. He played wonderful defense on the Clipper bigs, and made all three of his field goal attempts. I want to see this more often out of Perk. Well I have one bad thing, he got another technical, but it’s Perkins, what can you do?

Thabo Sefolosha- B     5pts/3reb/1ast/1stl

The Thunder got 15 more quality minutes out of Thabo tonight. Sure Randy Foye caught fire in the first half, but you can’t really blame a defender when someone shoots lights out. Thabo added a 3-pointer and two free throws, and you have a solid game.

James Harden- B+     10pts/6reb/5ast/1stl

While James Harden didn’t score that much, he did dish out five assists. He has been a very good passer, maybe the best on the team, and is involving the rest of the second unit.

Rest of the Thunder- A

The bench unit played a great game tonight. Maybe it was because of Derek Fisher, maybe not. They scored 26 points, including back to back Lazar Hayward 3’s, and seven from Nazr Mohammad. Fisher got most of Daequan Cook’s (who has been ruled out for 2-3 weeks) and Reggie Jackson’s minutes, and played some solid ball. Nineteen minutes was a little more than expected for his first time out, but I was not disappointed with Fisher’s play.

Russ Isabella-US PRESSWIRE

With this loss to the Utah Jazz, the Thunder are just .500 in their last 10 games following a seven game winning streak wrapped around the All-Star break.

After a combined 23 point first quarter for Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, they went cold the rest of the game, scoring just 18 more points.

They turned it over 20 times, and only had 15 assists, with no one having more than three.

Even after this tough stretch, the Thunder are still 3.5 games ahead of the Spurs for first place in the West.

Kevin Durant- C-     18pts/6reb/2ast/1stl

Durant really struggled to find the bottom of the net tonight. It took him 22 shots to score 18 points, and he added in six turnovers. I don’t know what it was about the Jazz defense, but something got to him that made him miss shots.

Russell Westbrook- A     23pts/4reb/3ast

After hitting his first four shots, Westbrook cooled down a bit, not scoring at all in the 2^nd quarter. It seemed weird that Westbrook only took 11 shots. The way he was shooting, he could’ve taken a lot more and been effective. He deferred to Harden at times in the second half, and it may have been that, that led to his efficiency tonight.

Thabo Sefolosha- B-     1pt/1reb/1ast/1stl

Coach Brooks is still easing Thabo into the rotation, playing just 15 minutes tonight. He looked pretty good on the defensive end, and took just one shot. It was nice to see Thabo out there again.

Serge Ibaka- B+     13pts/10reb/1ast/4blk

Serge put up another solid game for the Thunder tonight. He is getting points more consistently, and was a monster in the paint, as always. Al Jefferson, being a little more mobile than most players Serge guards, was able to score on him a little more than the Thunder are used to. With the picked up offense, his defense has been slacking a little bit.

Kendrick Perkins- B-     5pts/8reb/1ast/1blk

It was pretty much an average game for Perk. Some solid defensive play, with little offense added. The Thunder don’t really need much more from him on most nights.

James Harden- B+     17pts/4reb/2ast/

James made some really nice passes with the second unit, especially to Nick Collison. He put in his usual 17 points, hitting three of six 3-point attempts. The four turnovers by Harden didn’t help the cause, as it seemed nobody could hold onto the ball tonight.

Rest of the Thunder- A

Nick Collison had a really solid game. He got wide open at times, for easy buckets, and played more quality defense. Daequan Cook hit two shots in the 2^nd quarter when the stars were struggling, and Reggie Jackson is making his case to remain the backup point guard, instead of bringing in Derek Fisher. We’ll see what the Thunder do with that situation within the next couple days.

Richard Rowe-US PRESSWIRE

Just like last time, the Thunder suffer a one point loss to the Houston Rockets, 104-103.

The game was close throughout, until the Thunder took an 11 point lead with 2:29 to go in the game.

Their only basket from there on out was a Russell Westbrook free throw. The Thunder were outscored 13-1 to end the game.

Kevin Durant had the opportunity to win the game, but missed a jumper.

Serge Ibaka got the rebound and was blocked on the Thunder’s final attempt to score.

Similarly to the game against the Cavs, they struggled to close out Rockets late in the game. Durant led the team in scoring with 28, followed by Westbrook’s 19.

Kevin Durant- A-     28pts/12reb/4ast/1stl

Durant had a pretty average game for him this season, scoring 28 points on 18 shots. He took advantage of the smaller Rockets lineup to grab 12 boards. The four turnovers did not help, but overall a solid game from Durant.

Russell Westbrook- C     19pts/4reb/4ast/1stl

Not a very good shooting night for Westbrook, shooting only 39% from the floor, missing all of his 3-point attempts. He also only had four of the team’s 22 assists. When Kendrick Perkins has more assists than Russell Westbrook, it is either a really good game, or a really bad game, the latter being the case last night.

Serge Ibaka- B-     12pts/8reb/1ast/2blk

When Chandler Parsons went to the four, at times, Ibaka was forced to go out to the perimeter to guard him. That spread out the defense, allowing the Rockets to have more options on offense. Ibaka is the key to the Thunder defense, holding down the paint, to give the guards a little more leeway. Again, Ibaka’s jumper has been great, as of late, he hit two more 15-footers this game.

Kendrick Perkins-B     2pts/4reb/5ast/1stl

Perkins played 30 more minutes of solid defense for the Thunder. His offense was nowhere to be found, but it’s never really been there, so I’ve given up on that. With the trade deadline looming, it doesn’t seem likely that anyone gets moved, but you never know what could happen.

James Harden- C+     16pts/4reb/7ast/1stl

It seems like Harden never shoots that well against the Rockets. They have good guards, defensively, and it looks like they have figured out how to guard him when he is the only threat on the court. He will always find ways to score, but he needs a little help off the bench to be more efficient.

Rest of the Thunder- B+

As a group, everyone else really stepped up their game last night. They combined for 24 points, which isn’t all that great, but a lot better than usual. Nazr Mohammed led the group with 10 points and 6 rebounds. Nick Collison put in some quality minutes, as well.

Richard Rowe-US PRESSWIRE

After going up 85-82 with 3:14 to go in the game, the Thunder just shut down offensively.They didn’t score again until they were down eight with 24 seconds left, and by then, the game was over.

Kevin Durant led the Thunder in scoring with 23 points, Russell Westbrook has 19.

At points in the game, it seemed as if the Thunder were blowing out the Cavs, but the game was still close throughout. Oklahoma City turned the ball over 17 times, and were outrebounded 51-40 in the 96-90 loss.

On Saturday, the Thunder continue the home stand with the Charlotte Bobcats coming to town.

Kevin Durant- B+     23pts/8reb/8ast/3blk

Even in bad games, Durant finds ways to score. After making only one of his seven 3-point attempts, he still managed to shoot 50% overall. The team leader filled up the stat sheet again, adding in eight rebounds and assists, along with three blocks. Still, he needs to be more careful with the ball, turning it over six times.

Russell Westbrook- B-     19pts/2reb/4ast/1stl

The trade deadline is around the corner, and as always, Russell Westbrook’s name is getting thrown around. It is not likely that he gets traded, but there isn’t much doubt he would excel as the number one option. Westbrook only dished out four assists, but limited his turnovers to three.

Serge Ibaka- A     13pts/7reb/1ast/6blk

Serge had a sequence where he blocked three shots in a row. That kind of defensive presence creates fear of the paint for opposing teams. Not only did Ibaka lockdown the paint, he added 13 points on 6-8 shooting. His jumper is getting to be more reliable, and continues to raise his stock.

James Harden- B     15pts/6reb/2ast/2blk

Just kind of an “eh” game for James Harden, he contributed five field goals for 15 points, and six rebounds. It’s hard to take much from single games this season, with the lockout and all.

Kendrick Perkins- B-     6pts/4reb/1ast/2blk

I liked what I saw from Perkins tonight. His effort on the offensive end was much better than it usually is, hitting three shots. Perkins added two blocks, and just played an average game overall.

Rest of the Thunder- C-      

Nick Collison gave the Thunder 20 quality minutes, grabbing six boards and blocking two shots. Everybody else did nothing, as usual, and did not shoot well at all. The rest of the team shot just 32%, including Daequan Cook’s 1-6 from 3-point land. It was an incredibly average game for the Thunder, and the Cavs came to play.

Richard Rowe-US PRESSWIRE

After a 3-14 start from the field, the Thunder went on a run that put the halftime score at 72-49.

They were playing quality defense, shooting lights out, but the players got too comfortable in the second half.

The Celtics slowly picked away at the deficit, eventually bringing it within six, with 3:31 to go in the game. A couple of clutch, Kevin Durant bank shots sealed the game for the Thunder, winning 119-104.

They pulled the win out in the end, but the Thunder need to learn how to play with a lead.

Kevin Durant- B+     28pts/9reb/6ast/4stl

Durant played a pretty quiet game until the end, tonight. Shooting only 40% from the floor, his missed shots helped the Celtics get back into the game. Still, Durant hit clutch baskets and free throws to prevent the game getting too close. Twenty-two shots is a few too many to only score 28. At this point you have to nit-pick at his game to find ways to improve.

Russell Westbrook- A-     31pts/5reb/6ast/1stl

Again, Russell took more shots than Kevin Durant tonight. This has been the case for many games this season, and it has is one of his main criticisms. In games like tonight, it’s okay, but in closer games Durant should take the most shots on the team. Westbrook continues to play at an all-star level, and would be getting more assists if his big men would shoot a higher percentage.

Kendrick Perkins- B     8pts/10reb/0blk

Yet another technical for Kendrick Perkins, he picked up his 11^th on the year for complaining a call that fouled him out of the game. With two more, he will get a suspension, and we are only half way through the season. Otherwise, Perkins had a nice game, grabbing ten boards, along with eight points on 4-5 shooting.

Serge Ibaka- D     4pts/5reb/1blk

Ibaka really struggled tonight, making only one of his five shots, while only getting five rebounds. With the Thunder hot from outside, they didn’t feed it to the post often. Ibaka failed to make an impact on this game, only playing 22 minutes in the game.

Daequan Cook- A-     17pts/5reb/1ast

Finally, Cook made a few 3-pointers. He was a main part of the first half charge that put the Thunder up 27 points. It looks like Daequan is getting a little more comfortable in a starting role each night. Hopefully the three triples he made tonight will give him more confidence after only hitting on four of his last 34 attempts from beyond the arc.

James Harden- A     17pts/4reb/7ast/2stl

Once James Harden got into the game, the Thunder started rolling. Harden played like he was on a mission, shooting 60%, and driving to the basket with power. After the poor showing on Sunday against Denver, he stepped up his game tonight. Late in the game, with Durant and Westbrook on the court, Harden took it to the hoop, and drew a foul, hitting the two free throws. He is able to take control late in the game if the other two are struggling.

Rest of the Thunder- A+

The bench play was wonderful against the Celtics. Royal Ivey hits two 3-pointers early, and scored eight points, while Nazr Mohammed converted all three of his field goal attempts for six points. A majority of the bench minutes were during the second quarter run, and they contributed as much as the starters, during their time on the court.

Richard Rowe-US PRESSWIRE

After a tough loss two nights ago, the Thunder left no doubt this game, defeating the Golden State Warriors 110-87. They ran the Warriors out of the gym, shooting 52% from the field and 41% from three. The only real negative we can take from this game is that Westbrook went down with an ankle injury in the third quarter. Hopefully he’s not seriously injured and can come back as soon as possible. Let’s give the team some grades.

Kevin Durant- A     23pts/10reb/6ast

Durant had an MVP-like game tonight. Contributing on both ends of the floor, he shot 64% while going perfect from beyond the arc. If the game would’ve been closer, he would’ve had a shot at his first career triple double.

Russell Westbrook- A      18pts/3reb/3ast

The main focus on Westbrook tonight is his injury. If he is out for an extended period of time, the Thunder will either have to rely on Reggie Jackson or make a trade for another point guard to fill his role. His injury is the one dark spot on an otherwise great game for the Thunder.

James Harden- A+     25pts/4reb/2ast

He did everything right tonight. Harden was in control, shooting lights out, and running a quality offense when Westbrook was out. Durant trusted him to take control when he was in the game. He put on a show for the Thunder Nation.

Serge Ibaka- B     9pts/6reb/2blk

Its games like these where you really don’t need Ibaka to play all that well. The Warriors are a shooting oriented team, and Serge did all he needed to for the Thunder to win. Golden State did manage to grab 22 offensive rebounds, which will not go over well with Coach Brooks. A little more effort out of Ibaka should help fix that problem.

Nazr Mohammed- B-     4pts/3reb/1blk

Mohammed started the game, but still only played 17 minutes and managed minimal stats. Cole Aldridge and Nick Collison played the majority of his minutes, and there wasn’t much to take from this game.

Daequan Cook- C     1pt/3reb/3ast

Unfortunately, Daequan did not show up tonight. He missed both of his field goal attempts, and made a few bad plays with the ball. Come playoff time, he should only be used as a 3-pt specialist.

Rest of the Team- A-

All healthy players got at least 5 minutes tonight, and they showed they can play. Royal Ivey and Reggie Jackson played well for the situation. Ivey hit three triples, and Jackson dished out four assists coming in after Westbrook went down. If the reserves can come in and play like they did tonight, the Thunder will be a tough team to beat throughout the rest of the regular season.