The Spurs are still running their plays and getting a lot of good shots, but they're not shooting very well. They were only 18-43 (41 percent) from the field in the first half. Meanwhile, the Thunder have out-rebounded the Spurs 24-17, and OKC is shooting 57 percent (23-40) from the field. A big part of OKC's success is that they have shifted away from their usual reliance on Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, and are attacking the rim with their two big guys. Serge Ibaka (14 points) and Kendrick Perkins (13 points) were OKC's leading scorers in the first half. Meanwhile, no one from San Antonio is in double-digits. If the Thunder win tonight, we will be in for a very dramatic battle for the Western Conference title.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
NBA Update
After the amazing offensive display put on by San Antonio in Games 1 and 2, one had to wonder whether the young Oklahoma City Thunder were simply in over their heads against the canny Spurs. But back home in OKC, the Thunder appear to have righted the ship. On Thursday night, they blasted the Spurs 102-82, in a game where San Antonio clearly threw in the towel in the second half. And now, in a Game 4 that the Spurs would really love to have, the Thunder have roared out to a 55-43 lead at the half.
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Oklahoma City 63 - 53 San Antonio (6:13 left in 3d quarter)
ReplyDeleteThe Spurs aren't going away, but they aren't making much progress either. San Antonio is only 5-15 from three-point range, and that is not going to be enough to keep up with OKC.
Oklahoma City 73 - 66 San Antonio (1:46 left in 3d quarter)
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of Serge Ibaka before this series began. He's a 22-year-old power forward from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, whose parents were basketball players and who started playing in Spain as a teenager. He has been magnificent in this game: 9-9 from the field, 4-4 from the line, 22 points. But the Spurs have not yet given up, and they are only seven points down.
Oklahoma City 75 - 71 San Antonio (end of 3d quarter)
ReplyDeleteHere come the Spurs. OKC got a little selfish in their offense with their big lead, and the Spurs have crept back into the game. SA has now made 7-18 from three-point range.
This feels like an enormously important game. If the Spurs come back and win this game, they will probably close out the Thunder in Game 5 back in San Antonio. But if the Thunder can win, the series -- and the NBA Title -- will be up for grabs.
Oklahoma City 84 - 75 San Antonio (9:08 left in 4th quarter)
ReplyDeleteOKC pulled Russell Westbrook, who was messing up the flow of their offense, and the Thunder are rolling again. Have I mentioned how great James Harden is? He has just made two huge shots to send OKC out to an 8-point lead.
Oklahoma City 86 - 82 San Antonio (6:53 left in 4th quarter)
ReplyDeleteBut Tim Duncan won't give up! The aged Spur center (who has 17 points in this game) makes a huge hook shot to bring the Spurs within four. OKC calls time.
Oklahoma City 99 - 90 San Antonio (2:48 left in 4th quarter)
ReplyDeleteThe Spurs have given in their all down the stretch, but this game has been decided by the best player on the floor, Kevin Durant. Down the stretch he is simply killing San Antonio. In the most important part of the game, with the Spurs trying everything they can to stop him, Durant has scored 13 points in a row for OKC.
I've seen Bird, I've seen Jordan, I've seen every great basketball player since the mid-1970's. What Durant has done in the last few minutes of this game is as good as anything I've ever seen.
Oklahoma City 105 - 98 San Antonio (58 seconds left in 4th quarter)
ReplyDeleteThe Spurs have been excellent down the stretch -- they have scored 27 points in this quarter. But OKC has scored 30 points in the quarter, mainly because Durant is shooting the lights out. He has 34 points, and he scored 16 points in a row before he set up Harden with a three-pointer for OKC's last bucket.
Oklahoma City 109 - 103 San Antonio (Final)
ReplyDeleteOKC makes their FT's and the game is over. A great performance by the young Thunder, and a legendary performance by Kevin Durant, who finished with 36 points and totally dominated the last eight minutes of the game.
Game 5 is in San Antonio on Monday night. If you like sports at all, you should plan to tune in. This is the best basketball I've seen in an NBA conference final since before Michael Jordan went off to play baseball.
brilliant coaching to tell durant to take "any" open shot. this kid might be the best yet.
ReplyDelete