OKC Thunder net first win via a thorough beat down of Dubs – player grades

The OKC Thunder serves up a complete game effort in capturing their first win of the season and deliver a blow to the Golden State Warriors. Player grades define the game’s action.

It took three tries but the OKC Thunder got in the win column and did so with an all-out effort. Facing the Golden State Warriors there was a bit of anxiousness entering the match because like the Thunder the Dubs were winless.

The two teams’ circumstances were the same but how they arrived at their winless record was substantially different. The Warriors were embarrassed on their home court. Moreover, it was the home opener in the new much touted Chase Center.  Golden State got beat down badly but they were facing the team everyone had anointed (prior to a trip to Phoenix) as the undisputed best team this first week of action — the LA Clippers.

Draymond Green and Stephen Curry were flustered and angry plus they had a few days to stew over the loss which was much worse than the 19 point differential indicated.

Conversely, the Thunder had played a very good Utah Jazz team in their house to the final minute of action with a chance to win. At 4:10 they held the lead and while the Jazz pulled ahead, with :54 seconds remaining it was a two-point game.

Against the Wizards OKC fought tooth and nail to get back in the match before imploding. In the second half, OKC trailed by 12 points and cut the lead to two with a little less than five minutes remaining.

Seemingly the group used up all their energy to cut the deficit as they never got any closer. The Thunder had given themselves a shot at winning twice but came up empty. After the Wizards game, Chris Paul shouldered the blame for the loss.

The most concerning aspect through the two games was OKC’s offense as they hadn’t yet scored 100 points (95 vs. Utah and 85 vs. Washington).

So it was coming into the matinee on Sunday no one truly knew what to expect. Uncertainty over both teams loomed and a date to be skewered as the goat (and not the G.O.A.T) on every National program Monday was inevitable for whoever lost.

Deep breath Thunder Nation — the OKC Thunder will get some on-air shine but it will be as the other team who annihilated the Dubs.

Let’s take a look at the player grades from the match.