Grades: Shorthanded Thunder fail to beat the lowly Brooklyn Nets

In one quick half, the Oklahoma City Thunder lost all the momentum they had gained over the past week.

It turns out that playing in a different country doesn’t affect the identity of the OKC Thunder. Entering the game the Thunder had a three-game winning streak and a chance to move back to .500 on the season. They played as if none of that mattered.

Per usual, the Thunder jumped out to a first quarter double-digit lead behind a balanced offensive attack. Oklahoma City scored 33 points on 12-25 shooting; 9 of those made field goals were assisted on. As the game progressed the ball movement ceased, allowing a hungry Brooklyn team to slowly claw their way back into the game.

By the fourth quarter there was no semblance of an offensive identity. Actually there was – isolation basketball paired with contested, forced shots. The Thunder ended the game shooting 7-25 in the fourth quarter, only recording one assist in the frame. Carmelo Anthony of all players was the lone assister.

There’s no excuse for what happened in Mexico City. Playing without Paul George and Jerami Grant is not a factor when playing against a non-playoff team like the Nets. Billy Donovan didn’t keep his players accountable tonight, which is why we saw a gradual progression of offensive ineptitude.

Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony are wired to take matters into their own hands when they see their team struggle. Until Donovan lays into them and forces them to run an offense nothing is going to change. Nothing.

Now onto the worst Thunder report card of the year.