OKC Thunder OT win 3 takeaways: Dortfense rules – Free Bazley

Some high points from the win:

More from Thunderous Intentions

• Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
• Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
• 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
• Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

In order not end on a sour note –here are a few positives to focus on moving forward.

• The 15-3 overtime production the OKC Thunder laid on the Rockets is the LARGEST point differential a team has delivered in NBA playoff history.
• Ice in the veins — that was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who hit that 3-point shot like a cold-blooded killer to get the Thunder in a position to win the game.
• Four OKC Thunder players registered 20 points or more — Schroder (29), CP3 (26), SGA (23), and Gallo (20).
• OKC held the Rockets to 30 percent shooting in the second half and overtime (7 of 28 including 1 for 9 in the overtime)
• Rockets stuck to their identity putting up 50 shot attempts from the perimeter but only connected on 15 (30.0 percent).
• This was the first time all season James Harden fouled out and only the sixth time in his playoff tenure.
• The top five playoff perimeter defenders are the Celtics, Blazers, Raptors, Lakers and OKC Thunder. However, of those teams, the Celtics, (Heat), Lakers, and Blazers face the fewest 3-point attempts while Thunder and Raptors face the most.
• The Thunder grabbed 68 rebounds (wow!)
• It was the first game in the series where the Thunder reached double-figures in fastbreak scoring and OKC beat the Rockets in that category.

The OKC Thunder are back in action on Monday at 4:00 p.m (3:00 CT) when they attempt to even up the series. The game is on TNT and your typical local stations. For grades on Saturday’s games click here.

Challenge to the fan base — we need a nickname for Lu Dort. Please hit us up with your suggestions in the comments section.

Have a great day all.