Thunder Week In Review Times Three: 1/18-2/7
Final. 108. 169. 116. 149
The Thunder had scrapped their way to a 13-11 lead at the 5:26 mark of the 1st quarter when the Rockets hit on a 14-2 run that put them up 25-15 with 2:15 remaining in the period. The Rockets would end up taking a 29-22 lead into the 2nd.
The Thunder worked to cut the lead to 38-33 with 7:13 to play in the first half, but the Rockets would subsequently score 7 unanswered to push the lead out to 45-33 with 5:52 remaining in the half. The Thunder would fail to have a truly significant run in the first half, but still managed to shave the lead to 58-55 by halftime.
The Rockets were clinging to a 76-74 lead with 4:07 to play in the 3rd when the Thunder scored 8 unanswered to take an 82-76 lead with 2:25 remaining in the quarter. The Rockets would fail to cut into the lead by the end of the 3rd quarter, as the Thunder were up 89-83 going into the 4th.
A Ty Lawson 3-pointer made it a one possession game, cutting the Thunder lead to 89-86 with 11:43 to play, The Thunder would respond with 7 unanswered points to push their lead out to 96-86 with 10:09 remaining. The Rockets would shave the Thunder’s lead to 103-98 with 5:07 to go, but the Thunder would hit them with 9 unanswered points to push the lead out to 112-98 with 3:26 left in the game. The Rockets would go on a 10-2 run to cut the lead to 114-108 with 49.7 seconds remaining, but a Kanter layup would be the final bucket of the game. The Thunder would win 116-108 to even the season series 1-1, and improve their overall record to 36-13. Their next matchup with take place on March 22nd.
Westbrook ended his night with a 26-point, 14-assist, 10-rebound triple-double. Durant posted a 33-point, 12-rebound double-double. Waiters finished with 16 points, and Adams pulled down 10 rebounds. Kanter came off of the bench to contribute a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double.
James Harden dropped 33 points to add to Corey Brewer’s 17. Clint Capela dropped 12 bench points to go with Josh Smith’s 10.
The Thunder would get two nights to rest before hosting the Wizards. The Thunder were looking for a season series sweep, as they took the first contest 125-101 on Nov. 10th, 2015 in a game that saw Durant leave with a strained left hamstring. Westbrook put up a 22-point, 11-rebound, 11-assist triple-double.
Next: Break Out The Brooms