OKC Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets Game Grades
Mar 1, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) drives to the basket past Denver Nuggets forward Corey Brewer (right) during the second half at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 105-103. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Ty Lawson made a jump shot with 0.2 seconds left to lift the Denver Nuggets past the Oklahoma City Thunder 105-103 Friday night at the Pepsi Center.
The Thunder trailed by 10 points entering the fourth quarter but would storm back early in the final period to make this game close.
Denver burned the Thunder early and often in this game with fast break points and points in the paint. The Nuggets had 20 fast break points and 60 points in the paint for the game.
Denver also had a huge advantage in terms of their bench contribution getting 71 points from their bench while OKC got just 11.
The Thunder fall to 42-16 on the year with the loss and end their three-game winning streak. They will play on the road vs. the Los Angeles Clippers tomorrow for their next game.
Here are the Game Grades:
Kevin Durant – 40 minutes, 25 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists – B
Durant did not shoot it particularly well last night and it hurt the Thunder. He went just 9-for-20 from the field and had more turnovers (4) than assists (3). He missed three shots in a row in the final minutes of the game then made a great driving bank shot to tie the game at 103. He made a few ridiculous layups in the game but overall it was not his best effort.
Russell Westbrook – 38 minutes, 38 points, 5 assists, 6 rebounds – A
Westbrook had one of his best games of the year last night and it would have been his best if he would have made his free throws. Westbrook went just 12-for-17 from the free throw line which essentially cost the Thunder the win. He was very aggressive as he seemed to feed off the booing from the Denver crowd. He finished at the rim as well as he has all season and was the primary ball handler down the stretch instead of Durant.
Serge Ibaka – 38 minutes, 17 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks – B+
Ibaka got a lot of minutes and produced fairly well. He hit a few jumpers including a three and had some makes inside as he crashed the glass for three offensive boards. He also moved the ball around nicely a few times within the offense which is something he has been getting better at this season.
Kevin Martin – 24 minutes, 3 points, 2 rebounds, 1 block – F
The Thunder cannot afford to have Marin score just three points in a game. He was scoreless in the first half and hardly played and had no rhythm whatsoever all night.
Kendrick Perkins – 21 minutes, 4 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists – C
Perkins made some nice passes but that was about all he did well. He just didn’t seem athletic enough to compete in this game and the Thunder were better off with him off the floor and Ibaka or Nick Collison in at the five instead.
Thabo Sefolosha – 37 minutes, 8 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists – B+
Sefolosha knocked down a couple of threes in the fourth quarter and did a ton of other things as well. The 12 boards is a season-high for him and he also had two steals and three blocks. The only issue is that he let Lawson nail the jumper in his face to lose OKC the game.
Nick Collison – 22 minutes, 2 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block – B+
Collison was solid as usual. Three of his four boards came on the offensive end. The second unit for OKC couldn’t muster much offense however but it wasn’t Collison’s fault.
Reggie Jackson – 16 minutes, 6 points, 1 assist, 1 rebound – B+
Jackson was pretty good again scoring a few times at the rim and with a jumper. He turned the ball over twice but made up for one of those by taking a charge at the other end. It’s only a matter of time before he posterizes someone too by the way.
Derek Fisher – 5 minutes, 0 points, 1 assist – F
Fisher is just plain awful. He threw up two bricks and missed both in five minutes. OKC was outscored by seven with him out there. He needs to stop getting minutes.