Thunder Player Grades: Reserves inspired effort vaults OKC into 5th
OKC Thunder Best Reserve:
A+. . PG. Oklahoma City Thunder. THE ENTIRE BENCH
Jerami Grant: 15 points, 8 points, plus +17
Patrick Patterson: 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, plus +15
Alex Abrines: 11 points, 2 rebounds, +7
Nick Collison: 7 points, 2 rebounds
Josh Huestis: 5 points, 1 rebound, plus +17
Raymond Felton: 2 points, 5 assists, 1 steal, plus +9
In a first this season, the best reserve goes to the entire bench. This because so many of the reserve unit contributed in the match. By the half the worst scoring bench in the NBA had 24 of the teams 52 points.
Specifically, the OKC Thunder bench who have struggled this season rank 30th in scoring with an average of 26 points per game (they scored 24 in the first half).
By game end the bench accounted for 50 of the 104 points.
When Steven Adams went down early in the second half immediately the thoughts were ‘oh no, Adams had Aldridge on lock”. But, the underused Patrick Patterson, while not of the same ilk as Adams was more than capable of controlling Aldridge or at least to limiting his play.
By the time Nick Collison checked in to help the team build the lead, Chesapeake was worked into a frenzy. Sadly, when the starters returned the lead dissipated to within seven.
But as long as Russell Westbrook is on your team there is a shot and on this night his triple double, Corey Brewer’s energy and a bench who suddenly found their chemistry prevailed.