The OKC Thunder are coming off a solid victory in Philly, after a near cataclysmic collapse. Now they visit the Knickerbockers on MLK day.
On Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia, the OKC Thunder played their most complete game since defeating Portland on January 4. Despite leading by as many as 16 points, the victory was anything but a guarantee.
After some minor theatrics between Russell Westbrook and Joel Embiid, which included Westbrook picking up his sixth foul while contesting an Embiid game-tying three. Although Embiid is a career 78 percent free throw shooter he walked up to the line and nailed all three freebies, in spite of coach Billy Donovan‘s icing tactic.
With Westbrook disqualified, Donovan subbed back-up point guard Dennis Schroder into the ballgame. Schroder got trapped and attempted a risky pass to Steven Adams. The newest Sixer Jimmy Butler read the play perfectly and picked off Schroder’s ill-advised pass. After his steal Butler easily connected on a lay-up over the smaller Schroder.
As Mike Breen stated on the broadcast it was a cataclysmic collapse by the Thunder. However, after what appeared to be the game-winning bucket from Butler, Oklahoma City used their last time out, setting up a statement sequence for Paul George.
As Westbrook was forced to sit on the bench for the final possession it nearly ensured the ball would be in Paul George‘s hands. Indeed the rock was in the hands of the Thunder’s best scorer this season. George launched and connected on a left angle three and drew the foul on none other than Butler himself.
PG’s made free throw put the Thunder up two, that is what the final margin would be, a two-point Thunder victory. OKC extended their win streak over the Sixers to 19, the longest active streak versus a single opponent in the entire NBA, according to ESPN.
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Two stats stood out from the contest first, Adams and Embiid are widely considered top-10 centers in the NBA. Yet, Westbrook and Ben Simmons, the starting point guards lead their respective teams in rebounds.
Secondly, the Thunder who ranked 27th in free throw percentage heading into the match at 71.3 percent, sank 23 of their 26 foul shots, whereas the Sixers connected on 28 of their 39 freebies. Free throws are vital in close games and the Thunder made 88.5 percent of their freebies, paying dividends in a two-point victory.