Game Preview - Thunder vs Mavericks

The Oklahoma City Thunder (49-17) take on the Dallas Mavericks (31-34) tonight at the American Airlines Arena. Oklahoma City leads the season series over the Mavericks 3-0. This is the last of four meetings between the teams this season.

(AP Photo/Alonzo Adams

Thunder's previous game: Oklahoma City is coming off a 117-104 win over the Orlando Magic, a game where the Thunder set a franchise record - scoring 73 first half points.

The Thunder have an all around team effort in the victory last Friday. Three players, Ibaka, Durant, and Westbrook, scored at least twenty points in the game. Serge had a terrific night from the floor, shooting 8-10  to finish with twenty points, six rebounds, and three blocked shots. Kevin Martin seemed to be getting back into his groove. K-Mart had a high percentage shooting night, nailing five of his nine shots from the field for fifteen points, to go along with his six rebounds and three assists.

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Oklahoma City's bench was right where it needed to be in the contest. Though they have been inconsistent this season, they have improved their consistency as of late. The bench totaled thirty eight points in the game, playing with explosiveness and charisma.

Coming out with energy and focus, Oklahoma City managed to blow it wide open from the beginning, out scoring the Magic 39-26 in the first quarter on an outstanding 71% shooting. The lead was just four mid way through the first, before the Thunder went on an 16-8 run to close out the first quarter. Oklahoma City's starters combined for thirty of the Thunder's thirty nine points in the quarter, led by Russell Westbrook who had ten points on 4-6 shooting.

AP Photo/Alonzo Adams

The defense locked up on the Magic in the second quarter as the Thunder went on another 16-4 run to extend their lead to as much as twenty seven points. Despite the Thunder's enormous run early on, they got a little loose on the defensive end in the second half on the second quarter, allowing the Magic to finish with thirty points and cut the Thunder's lead to just seventeen at half time.

Oklahoma City would maintain their dominant lead throughout the contest, but gave up a 9-2 run midway through the fourth quarter that allowed the Magic to cut it down to as much as four. The Thunder were able to pick up the defense and run the break off turn overs, helping them finish the game on an eight to nothing run and win the game 117-104.


Last meeting with Mavericks: The Thunder used a 46 point night from their bench to blow the Mavericks on 112-91 in their last meeting back in early February.

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The turning point in the game was the second quarter, where the Thunder's Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combined for twenty points on 100% shooting from the field. Oklahoma City scored thirty nine points in the quarter, extending their lead to as much as twenty seven by half time.

The Thunder would use their momentum to carry them throughout the next two quarters, where they shot just 38% from the field. Dallas wasn't able to make any big runs in the second half, besides out scoring the Thunder 24-20 in the fourth quarter, and the Thunder went on to win the game 112-91 at home.

Thunder blows out Jazz 110-87

Though the Thunder had a tough time taking care of the ball this game, turning it over twenty five times, their defense held strong as they torched the Jazz 110-87.

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

A sloppy start to first quarter resulted in a quick 10-4 lead taken by the Jazz, but the Thunder would proceed to outscore Utah 25-9 the rest of the quarter. Russell Westbrook led the way with his nine points on 4-6 shooting, to go along with his three rebounds and four assists. The Honey-Badger penetrated the Jazz's defense at will, and would proceed to dump off to Collison and Ibaka down low for easy baskets.

The Thunder did exactly what the needed to do on the offensive end of the floor in the first quarter. They out scored the Jazz 12-2 in the paint, and ran the floor excellently, scoring five points in the break. Though the Thunder had six turn overs, they only allowed two Utah points off of them.

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Oklahoma City absolutely turned on the jets defensively in the second quarter. They allowed the Jazz to score just nine points in the entire quarter on a measly 12% shooting. Kevin Durant struggled to get his shot to fall in the quarter, going just 1-4 from the field for five points. Ten points coming off the bench from Kevin Martin and D-Fisher combined helped the Thunder on the offensive end, and take a 50-28 lead into half time.

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

After scoring just eight points in the first half, Kevin Durant owned the third quarter by going off for fifteen points on a near perfect 5-6 shooting. Durant willed his team to extend their lead by as many as thirty two. To go along with his fantastic scoring quarter, KD pulled down five rebounds to give a double-double by the end of the third quarter.

The Thunder split the difference at 31 a piece in the fourth quarter, maintaining their lead throughout. Though the Jazz got as close at sixteen at one point, Oklahoma City never let it dip below that margin. The bench played the entire quarter for the Thunder, and was excellent at getting to the line, making nine of their ten free throws.


Thunder Essentials:


Fastbreak - B

The Thunder did a pretty good job in the break tonight, scoring fifteen points. Their defense in the break wasn't at all, though. They gave up twenty three points to the Jazz in the run and did a pretty bad job at contesting the shots. Most of the points were coming off an atrocious twenty five Thunder turn overs for twenty two points, something Oklahoma city has to stop.

Interior defense - A

Oklahoma City did just what they needed to do when it came to protecting the paint. They held Utah to just thirty two points in the paint, playing excellent interior defense and contesting each shot, they were able to body up every man down low and deny easy baskets inside.

Play Consistent - B

They were able to hold down their lead for most the game, starting in the first few minutes. They had a little scare with the second unit in the fourth, but for the most part - Oklahoma City was able to hold on to their style of play, though it wasn't the best style, and win the game.

Game Preview - Thunder vs Jazz

The Oklahoma City Thunder (47-17) take on the Utah Jazz (33-31) tonight at the Peake'. This is the third of four meetings between the teams this season. The season series is tied 1-1.

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Thunder's previous game: Oklahoma City started out the game just right. They were above 50% from the field, they dominated the glass 15-4, they were active in the paint, but they threw away a ten point lead in the second quarter.

The Thunder's defense completely collapsed in the second quarter, giving up thirty five points to the Spurs, while struggling to find their offensive rhythm as well - scoring just eighteen points themselves. Everything looked fine before this happened. K-Mart was 3-3 from beyond the arc, though he would finish just 3-8 from the field, not scoring for the wrest of the game - and the Thunder's bench continued to disappear.

AP Photo/Darren Abate

This has been a constant struggle this season for Oklahoma City. Their bench hasn't been able to consistently out play other team's benches. One night they score thirty five points, the next they score eleven. The cycle continues, and it must be fixed if the Thunder's stock is to rise as a play off team, potentially making it back to the finals - which many people are starting to become doubtful of, they need to find stability on their bench.

A lot of the talk has been directed towards Scott Brooks, the Thunder's head coach. The on and off minutes certain players have been getting, and the foggy rotations that seem to change every other game, have made many fans uneasy. People are starting to doubt if he's capable of coaching a team to the finals again, but people have to remember that it's the regular season, and the Thunder have still made progress from their previous season.

AP Photo/Darren Abate

After things fell apart in the second quarter, the Thunder never managed to put together any significant runs other than an 8-1 run midway through the third quarter that brought Oklahoma City within one. The Spurs, though - would quickly extend their lead back to as much as nine by the end of the quarter, weakening the Thunder player's morality and making it most unlikely for a fourth quarter come back. Oklahoma City would go on the lose to the Spurs 105-93.

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Last meeting with Jazz: Kevin Durant went off for thirty three points in Utah back in early February, but it wasn't enough.

Oklahoma City struggled immensely with turn overs, perhaps the worst game of the season for the Thunder when it comes to taking care of the ball. They turned it over twenty times to the Jazz, and allowed twenty eight points off of them. This resulted in any runs the Thunder would put together just stopping on a dime. You can't score any meaningful amount of points in a select period of time when you're constantly turning the ball over.

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The Thunder has some success though in running the floor. They were able to score twenty one points on the Jazz in the fast break, doing so efficiently - making eight of the twelve fast break shots. If Oklahoma City has a strong suit against this Jazz team, it would be this indeed. They were more athletic than the Jazz, and certainly quicker in transition.

The turning point was the fourth quarter, a quarter in which Oklahoma City gave up six points off four turn overs, and shot a measly 38% from the field. It was perhaps over before it really was over, though. Scott Brooks allowed the starters to play just six minutes in the fourth, but allowed back up point guard Reggie Jackson to play the entire quarter. He showed frustration and disappointed with his teams performance through the first three quarters, and decided to take a loss and back up and go home. The Thunder went on to lose the game by double digits, 109-94.


Thunder Essentials:


Fast Break - Oklahoma City did an excellent job at attacking the Jazz in the break, running it off defensive rebounds and turn overs. Utah has no chance at keeping up with the Thunder, and they need to have another twenty one point outing in the department if they want to grab an easy win tonight.

Interior Defense - Utah has a scary front court in Al Jefferson and Paul Milsap. They managed to score forty two points in the paint last time out, which isn't extreme, but Oklahoma City should try to get this down to the low thirties if they are to have an easier outing against the Jazz.

Play Consistent - Last time out against the Spurs was a perfect example of how the Thunder are, and can be inconsistent. Dominating the first quarter, then just completely disappearing the next quarter isn't a quality you want any team of your liking to possess. Play consistently on both sides of the ball tonight for all four quarters and they'll be just fine.

Thunder falls to Spurs 105-93

After an explosive first quarter, Oklahoma City wasn't able to keep up with the Spurs after turning it over nineteen times for twenty five points, and would go on to lose the game 105-93.

P Photo/Darren Abate

Game Preview - Thunder vs Spurs

The Oklahoma City Thunder (47-16) take on the San Antonio Spurs (48-15) tonight at the AT&T center. This is the third meeting between the two teams this season. The season series is tied 1-1.



Thunder's previous game: Oklahoma City faced off against Boston yesterday evening in an exciting defensive effort by both teams, particularly the Thunder.

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Thunder's defense proves strong against the Celtics, Wins 91-79

A terrific defensive effort today, and spot-on ball movement helped the Thunder hold it out against the Celtics and win it 91-79.

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Thunder tame the Bobcats 116-94

The Thunder gabbed their 46th win of the season after their annual visit to Charlotte. Oklahoma City's defense proved effective tonight, holding the Bobcats to just 41% shooting in the contest.

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