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| AP Photo/Alonzo Adams |
Thunder's previous game: The Thunder's defense was spectacular last time out against the Chicago Bulls. Oklahoma City held the Bulls to just 21% shooting in the first half and scored twenty five points off eighteen Chicago turn overs. The Bulls, known for their excellent defense this season, allowed Oklahoma City to score over a hundred points in the contest.
The turning point was the third quarter, where Oklahoma City out scored the Bulls 31-18, and were able to hold the Bulls to just 35% shooting. The Thunder were on fire in the third quarter, led by the usual suspect Russell Westbrook. The Honey-Badger made five of his six field goals in the quarter for ten points and sparked the Thunder's hot shooting, shooting 65% in the quarter.
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| Mike DiNovo-US PRESSWIRE |
Oklahoma City led by as much as twenty nine in the third quarter. Driving the lane and converting easy baskets allowed the Thunder to out score the Bulls 12-6 in the paint. Serge Ibaka tagged on nine points of his own on 4-6 shooting and had a big blocked shot on Luol Deng at the 8:40 mark of the third. Chicago had no answer for Russell Westbrook, and had no answer for the Thunder's front court as OKC pulled down fourteen offensive boards in the game.
Kevin Durant had another poor shooting night, shooting just 6-19 for nineteen points, but he was able to contribute on the glass as he pulled down a season high sixteen boards. Jeremy Lamb checked in for the Thunder in the fourth for garbage time, and was able to set a new career high of his own with nine points. He took only three shots, making two of them, but was able to go 4-4 from the free throw line.
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| Brett Duke/Nola.com |
Last meeting with NOLA: The Hornets, who will soon be the Pelicans, have had no success this season against the Thunder. Oklahoma City blew New Orleans out twice already this season, beating them by an average of thirteen points in the three games played this season.
The Hornets gave the Thunder a run for their money back in December when Oklahoma City was in progress of their twelve game winning streak. The Thunder were able to use a 34-26 fourth quarter to come back from being down four, to winning the game 88-92. Thunder shot a ridiculous 70% in the fourth and were able to score ten points off four NOLA turn overs.
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| Chris Graythen |
Kevin Durant was showing again why we call him "Kid Clutch", scoring thirteen of his thirty five points in the fourth quarter, and doing so while going 5-8 from the field. Russell Westbrook and Nick Collison were both perfect from the field in the fourth, both shooting 2-2, combining for nine points. The score was 89-85 Thunder lead, When Anthony Davis was sent to the line where he converted one of his two free throws.
Brian Roberts would coral the missed free throw and proceed to nail a three to cut the Thunder's lead to just one at 89-88 with 9.0 seconds left to play. Kevin Durant would be sent to the line where he would nail 1/2 free throws, but the Hornets would miss their next shot and be forced to foul Thabo Sefolosha, where he nailed both of his free throws to seal the deal and win the game 92-88.
Thunder Essentials:
Second chance points - The Hornets managed to score twenty one second chance points last time out, to go along with their thirteen offensive boards. This is the reason why the game was so close in the first place. When you hold someone to 39% shooting you shouldn't have to use a big fourth quarter to win by four. Yes, Oklahoma City shot just 43% themselves, but giving up twenty one second chance points is never going to get you an easy win.
Turn overs - This problem has plagued the Thunder all season along, and especially as of late. Oklahoma City is averaging 18.7 turn overs in their last four games. Giving up easy fast break points, especially against teams with athletic big men who can get out and run the floor - like the Hornets, destroys your offensive rhythm.
Big Bad Bench - With the new additions of Derek Fisher and Ronnie Brewer, neither of whom I'm 100% sure are in the line up tonight, adds tremendous depth the the Thunder's suffering bench. It's been K-Mart or bust this season. K-Mart hasn't consistently been that spectacular force coming off the bench like Harden was last year, but with the new additions, the Thunder's bench is looking much better. It's not bench filled with a lot of scoring, but just a lot of quality players who can make winning plays. Oklahoma City might try to run small ball with their second unit, now with perhaps Reggie Jackson and D-Fish at the 1 and 2, K-Mart at the three, and Ronnie Brewer running the 4/5 with Nick Collison. You would get a little bit of everything with a line up such as that. Scoring in K-Mart, post presence in Collison, defense in Brewer, ball handling and playing making in Derek Fisher and Reggie Jackson, it could potentially be a good line up.
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