Despite a limited bench particularly in the backcourt the OKC Thunder registered an easy victory over the Kings behind the stellar performances of the true OK3.
Although this game could easily have fallen into the trap game mode, the OKC Thunder arrived still focusing on “revenge week” as they registered a solid victory over the upstart Kings.
Given my issues pulling up the live stream of the game initially big thanks to Tailor Finney who offered the following:
The starting five stepped up to compensate for the lack of both backup point guards, Dennis Schroder and Raymond Felton being out due to suspension for leaving the bench in the Chicago Bulls melee.
The Thunder produced a seemingly effortless first half despite the less than normal depth of the bench against the Kings. OKC put up an easy 71 points in the half, after a slow 12-6 start and a timeout by Donovan to wake up the team. It seemed OKC put more emphasis on scoring in the paint and drawing fouls. Specifically, Russell Westbrook.
As much as Westbrook made a major difference via his drives to the paint his issues at the stripe continue to make us wonder if this is due to his knees (injury not fully healed) or if it’s become a psychological issue at this point.
Terrance Ferguson took on Heild defensively and quieted the raging three-point shooter in the second quarter, aiding in OKC’s eventual 19-point lead at the half. If only the game had ended there.
Ferguson opened the third quarter with a hot three in the corner to extend the lead to 22 points. But after Heild found his footing again, the Kings chipped away for a 9-point deficit at the end of the third. A team lives or dies at the three-point line, and the Kings were coming up for air and thriving.
The only reason OKC had this game in the bag was a phenomenal performance by the Thunder recent MVP Paul George.
With that, let’s dive into the player grades.