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Game Preview: OKC Thunder look to swish the Nets for second straight win

By Tailor Finney

OKC Thunder, Steven Adams (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKC Thunder, Steven Adams (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Paul George, OKC Thunder (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Defense:

It sounds like a broken record by now, but when this team plays to their defensive identity there’s hardly a team that can stop us. In Utah, we finally got to see the defense we know and love return. OKC Thunder is currently ranking fourth in the league allowing 105.7 points on average.

Brooklyn’s most recent loss came at the hands of Miami. Miami ranks ninth in the league with a Defensive Rating of 107.8. The Heat held Brooklyn to only 88 points. So, if OKC Thunder can hold strong on the defensive end the Nets should collapse.

Back in December, Brooklyn’s starters combined for a 42.8 percent shooting, .500 from the perimeter. In their most recent win, Brooklyn routed Detroit as the teams had very similar records. The Nets starters combined for 58.5 percent shooting, with Allen Crabbe sinking 4-of-6 from beyond the arc.

Perimeter defense cannot lag. Terrance Ferguson exited late in Monday night’s game with concussion symptoms, though he is expected to be back. Hopefully, he remains in gametime condition, because his defensive contributions will be needed.

Players to watch:

MVPG:

From January 1 through the end of February, Paul George only had two games scoring less than 23 points. Since sitting for three consecutive games to start March, he’s already had two games scoring less than 20 points. Last time he faced Brooklyn, he went off for a near 50-point double-double with a 25-point fourth quarter. Let’s hope the Nets ignite another MVPG appearance, especially with two more statement games left this week.

Dennis Schroder: 

Schroder’s 24 points in Utah was his first 20-point performance since missing two games to be with his family. He went 10-for-18 in the field, a rather reassuring outing as Playoff season approaches. He hit big 3-pointers that boosted OKC’s momentum. Hopefully tonight he can continue with another big outing to help topple Brooklyn.

Allen Crabbe:

The 6’6″ shooting guard is only averaging 9.6 points on the season; however, Crabbe lit up against OKC with 22 points and put up another 22 points versus Toronto. He’s coming off a 14-point performance versus Detroit so he may be due for another big outing tonight. In all of his double-digit games, he attempted nine or more field goals.

D’Angelo Russell: 

Russell is Brooklyn’s leading scorer. He’s averaging 20.3 points on the season, and had 17 points over OKC in December. Since then, he’s had multiple games with 30+ points. However, he’s only averaging 16.5 points for the month of March and is coming off a 10-point performance over Detroit.

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