Former Oklahoma City Thunder players dominate game ones to start the NBA Playoffs. With the OKC Thunder not in the NBA postseason, Thunder fans have to channel their energy somewhere as they kick back and watch the NBA Playoff madness in a stress-free environment. Folks, there is basketball every day until the finals, soak it up before the offseason. If you are looking for who to root for allow our playoff guide to help!
Here is what you missed over the weekend as former Oklahoma City Thunder players dominated game one in their respective matchups. From the fountain of youth to old faces in new places, let’s dive into the opening weekend of the NBA Playoffs.
Former Oklahoma City Thunder players Al Horford, and Chris Paul, dominate round one game over the weekend
Let’s start with Al Horford, who played against the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday in what was one of the best round one games of all times, and is a series shaping up to be the best first-round series in the history of the association.
Horford played 28 games for the OKC Thunder last year before being shut down at the end of the season due to the team’s incentive to lose. In his age 34 season with the Thunder, he posted 14 points, six rebounds, and three assists per game with a block and steal per contest to boot.
In game one, Horford found a fountain of youth catching lob passes, defending Kevin Durant on the perimeter, pouring in 20-points, 15-rebounds, two assists, and a steal while shooting 61-percent from the floor and 2-for-2 from deep. The Celtics’ defense limited Kevin Durant to 37-percent shooting on his way to 23-points.
In game one against the Pelicans, Chris Paul led the Suns to a win while missing just three shots, scoring 30-points, dishing out 10-assists, hauling in seven rebounds, and poking away three steals. The game was not as kind to Cameron Payne who only logged two points and a rebound going 1-for-6 from the floor.
Billy Donovan‘s Bulls fell in game one against the Bucks after some sloppy side out plays needing a three–stop me if you have heard that before about a Donovan coached team–while Alex Caruso, an OKC Blue legend, turned in seven points, three rebounds, and two assists. For the Bucks, Serge Ibaka and George Hill did not play.
The Hawks were blown out in game one against the Miami Heat, as Danilo Gallinari scored 17-points to the tune of 41-percent from the floor, five rebounds, and a turnover. Timothe Luwawu-Caborrot scored five points while hauling in three rebounds. For the Heat, Omer Yurtseven logged five points, while Victor Oladipo and Markieff Morris did not play.
The Memphis Grizzlies were upset in game one by the Minnesota Timberwolves as Steven Adams plays 24-minutes going 0-for-0 from the floor, three-point line, and free throw line. Adams only pulled in three rebounds and dished out three assists with four fouls.
As the Nuggets got blown out by the Golden State Warriors, Jeff Green posted seven points, four rebounds, and one assist as a stat line.
Who was the most impressive performer in game one? Who do you want to win a ring? Let us know in the comment section below!