OKC Thunder week that was – Top 10 plays from OKC’s West Coast gauntlet
After four tough games in six nights against Western Conference foes, the OKC Thunder ends the week 2-2. TI presents its top 10 plays from the week that was.
The OKC Thunder had its toughest week to date, taking on the Utah Jazz, New Orleans Pelicans, Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Clippers in six days. With all four teams in the mix for playoff positioning, the week served as a litmus test to see how good Oklahoma City really are.
The result? Inconclusive.
Oklahoma City split the week 2-2 winning both games at home but losing two games on the road. Let’s go through a quick breakdown of the games.
OKC Thunder 122-113 Utah Jazz (H)
OKC began the week in spectacular fashion, dispatching Donovan Mitchell and the Utah Jazz 122-113. Behind a 17-point Paul George third quarter, Oklahoma City powered its way to 42-points in the third to build an unassailable lead 24-point lead. While Utah’s reserves made a small run to cut the deficit to single digits, OKC was never threatened by the men from Salt Lake City.
New Orleans Pelicans 118-114 OKC Thunder
Oklahoma City then traveled to the Big Easy to take on Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans. Despite a monster 44-point, 18 rebound performance from AD, OKC fought back from a seven-point deficit to close the Pels lead to two with 90 seconds remaining thanks to two key steals from Russell Westbrook and an and-1 from PG13.
Down two with seven seconds remaining, Westbrook drove to cup and found an open Alex Abrines for three. The Spaniard’s shot hit the back of the iron, New Orleans corralled the rebound and hit two free throws to seal the game. OKC left the Big Easy with a 118-114 loss.
Denver Nuggets 109-98 OKC Thunder
The Thunder then traveled to Colorado to face-off Western Conference leaders the Denver Nuggets. After weathering a hot 3-point shooting first quarter from Denver, OKC used its trademark defense to stifle Denver’s offense the rest of the way.
However aside from Steven Adams and PG combining for 58 points on 55 percent shooting, the team’s offense was as anemic as ever. Russ, Dennis Schroder, and Jerami Grant combined for 37 points, shooting 13-39 from the field and missing a number of easy lay-ups at the hoop.
Down three with two minutes remaining, PG13 threw a bad pass resulting in a lay-up then proceeded to chuck up a contested three the next play to seal the game. Nikola Jokic was impressive, posting 25 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists to power the Nuggets to a 109-98 victory.
OKC Thunder 110 vs 104 Los Angeles Clippers
After back to back losses, Oklahoma City returned home to welcome the Los Angeles Clippers on the second night of a back to back. Jerami Grant was impressive setting the defensive tone early with two blocks on Marcin Gortat inside the games first three minutes. The Thunder forced 26 turnovers and dominated inside with a 54-30 advantage.
The Clippers stayed in the hunt on the back of making 13 of its 25 attempts from three. With OKC up 16 with eight minutes remaining, the Clippers used a 9-0 run to close the gap but ultimately fell short thanks to OKC’s smothering defense and timely jumpers from PG and Russ to propel OKC to a 110-104 victory.
While PG continued his red-hot form, its OKC’s big men who comprise the bulk of this weeks top 10 plays. Let’s take a look.