OKC Thunder vs. Detroit Pistons Game Grades
Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE
The Oklahoma City Thunder trailed the Detroit Pistons 73-62 after three quarters last night. The Thunder came back to shock the Pistons and win on the road 92-90, outscoring Detroit 30-17 in the final period.
The Thunder were not making shots last night as they shot just 37.0 percent from the field for the game and were 1-of-10 from deep. They won the game at the free throw line where they went 37-for-42 for the game.
The Thunder had 20 assists or more in each game this season until last night having just 10. They turned the ball over just 14 times though.
The Pistons were not much better from the field for the game at just 39.8 percent. They only turned the ball over 11 times and had 13 offensive rebounds which helped them gain a lead.
On to the Game Grades:
Kevin Durant – 44 minutes, 26 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists – B
Durant had 15 points through three quarters and then turned it on in the fourth, scoring 11 to help the Thunder come back. Durant made a 7-foot jumper with 47 seconds left to give the Thunder an 88-85 lead that essentially sealed the deal. Durant went just 8-for-22 from the field for the game but was perfect at the line in 10 tries. He also added four blocks.
Russell Westbrook – 44 minutes, 33 points, 4 assists, 10 rebounds – A
It was Westbrook’s birthday and he wanted to have a big game. It didn’t look like it was going to happen until he came alive in the fourth quarter scoring 14 points and grabbing a huge offensive rebound with 12 seconds left. Westbrook was 7-for-21 from the field through the first three quarters then made all four of his field goals in the fourth. In 44 minutes, Westbrook turned the ball over just twice which continues to be a big improvement in his game.
Serge Ibaka – 38 minutes, 11 points, 7 rebounds, 6 blocks – B+
Ibaka played a great defensive game last night and not just because he blocked six shots. He was a real presence in the paint for OKC. Ibaka has been on a rolling scoring in the past few games and double-digits again last night was nice to see from him.
Kevin Martin – 29 minutes, 13 points, 1 rebound, 2 steals – B
This was Martin’s lowest scoring game of the season as he went just 2-of-8 from the field. The Thunder outscored Detroit by 10 with Martin in though. He made all eight of his free throw attempts and is looking better and better by the game fitting in with everyone.
Kendrick Perkins – 21 minutes, 1 point, 4 rebounds, 1 block – C+
Perkins was coming off two really nice games for him but he wasn’t able to make much of an impact last night. The Thunder were outscored by six when he was in and he didn’t have a field goal. Some games Perkins isn’t really need to do Perkins things and that was the case last night.
Thabo Sefolosha – 34 minutes, 2 points, 2 assists, 8 rebounds – B
Sefolosha played a lot of minutes as Brooks used him at the three in a small lineup to close out the game with Westbrook, Martin, Durant and Ibaka. Sefolosha always does a lot of little things and is at his best when he fills up the stat sheet some too, which he didn’t do last night.
Nick Collison – 16 minutes, 2 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block – B
Nothing special from Collison last night as the Thunder were outscored by seven with him in the game which is always surprising.
Eric Maynor – 7 minutes, 2 points – C
Maynor did not play at all in the second half as Brooks decided to play Westbrook its entirety and go with Sefolosha with the small ball lineup instead. Maynor went just 1-of-3 from the field in the first half.
Hasheem Thabeet – 4 minutes, 2 points, 1 rebound – C
Thabeet returned to action after missing the last two games with an injury. Not many minutes last night but he again made all of his free throw attempts at least.
Jeremy Lamb – 3 minutes, 0 points – C
Lamb got the chance to get a little run in the first half as Brooks was perhaps looking for an unexpected spark or rewarding some good play in practice. Lamb didn’t get much of a chance to show anything but it is interesting that he played over Perry Jones, III.