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| AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki |
Oklahoma City had their best first quarter of the season, scoring thirty seven points on the Lakers, and a lot of it had to do with taking care of the ball. The Thunder, a team averaging sixteen turn overs a game, managed to not turn the ball over ZERO times in the entire quarter. An incredible feat, and if it wasn't for the Thunder's foul problems, this one would've been blown wide open in just one quarter.
Russell Westbrook had another fantastic quarter offensively, scoring thirteen points on 6-10 shooting to go along with six rebounds. The Thunder held the Lakers to just 36% shooting in the first quarter, contesting every shot and playing excellent pass-defense. The old Lakers squad couldn't keep up with Oklahoma City in the break, allowing the Thunder to score nine points in the fast break.
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| AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki |
The Thunder's bench pitched in seven points in the second quarter, helping Oklahoma City score a season-high seventy one points in the first half on 52% shooting. K-mart was 2-6 from the field, all of which being threes, for eight points. Despite giving an 8-0 run to he Lakers midway through the quarter, the Thunder continued their explosive offensive production and extended their lead to as much as sixteen.
Russell Westbrook and Co. continued to pound the ball inside, and the Lakers couldn't do anything to stop it. Oklahoma City scored sixteen points in the paint, relentlessly attacking the basket, and converting second chance points. The Thunder's defense played fairly well, but they struggled with giving up fouls, fouling the Lakers seventeen times in the first half.
The Lakers made a push in the third quarter, playing much better on both ends of the floor. Steve Nash was huge in the third quarter, scoring thirteen points on 5-6 shooting. LA held Oklahoma City to just 38% shooting from the quarter, and was clogging the lanes effectively, rendering the Thunder's drive to the basket ineffective, thus making them settle for contested, long range jumpers.
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| Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images |
The Thunder still took excellent care of the ball in the quarter. They were flawless and turned the ball over zero times. Though the Thunder scored seven points in the break, their poor shooting and poor defense allowed the Lakers to cut the lead to 97-89 going into the fourth quarter.
Oklahoma City tied an NBA record tonight, turning it over only twice in the entire game. You'd think the out come would've exceeded tonight's, but regardless Oklahoma City played an excellent game. The Thunder held the Lakers to just 26% in the fourth quarter, stopping any hopes they had of making a come back. Three of the five field goals Lakers made in the fourth were three pointers, shooting just 2-17 from inside the arc.
Reggie Jackson was The Answer tonight in the fourth. Kevin Durant couldn't get it going in, just 1-3 in the quarter, but RJ was there to pick up KD's slack in the fourth. Jackson has 8 points in the quarter on 4-5 shooting. No it wasn't garbage time either. It was Jackson attacking the rim mercilessly, and helped the Thunder go on a 10-0 run to end the game 122-105.
Thunder Essentials:
Russell Westbrook - A+++
The Honey-Badger had his best composure of the season. He was absolutely unstoppable tonight. Russell had thirty seven points points and ten rebounds on 51%(15-29) shooting, and managed to turn the ball over just once. He had complete control of the game, the entire time, and blew past anyone who attempted to guard him.
Parameter Defense - B
Oklahoma City held the Lakers to just 40% from the field, but allowed the Lakers to hit from down town at will, giving up 41% from down town to LA. This grade would've been higher if LA shot some where in the low 30's range, but holding a team to 40% shooting and scoring twenty two points off sixteen turn overs will win you games.
Finish Strong - B
The Thunder gave up a fourteen point lead and a 10-2 run to the Lakers going into the Third. LA brought themselves within six at one point in the fourth quarter, before Oklahoma City went on a 9-3 run of their own led by Reggie Jackson. Kevin Durant didn't finish particularly well tonight, but his teammates where there to pick up his slack, and they finished well because of it.
Some Thunder Thoughts -
1st Quarter: The Thunder started the 1st quarter off strong, leading as far as (7)-(0) mainly because of the Thunder defense. The Thunder didn't let the LA Lakers score a field goal until 6 minutes left in the 1st quarter. Even though the Lakers still had points because the Thunder kept fouling them excessively. Thunder also had 0 turnovers in all of the 1st quarter, very impressive for Thunder considering they average around 16 turnovers a game. Thunder leads the 1st quarter (37)-(28).
2nd Quarter: The Thunder started off the 2nd quarter with the bench playing. They started off good with Kevin Martin and Fisher both hitting a 3 before they went back to the bench. That's been the first 3 Fisher has made since he has returned to the Thunder. The Thunder also has only turned the ball over 1 time the first half, that's just insane. Thunder averages 16 turn overs a game so they're starting to improve on the turnovers. The Thunder are committing too many fouls though. The Thunder have fouled the Lakers 17 times in just the first half, resulting in 20 points alone out of the 55 they have. The Thunder also are keeping amazing defense on Kobe Bryant, double teaming him for the most part of the game and not letting him get easy shots off. From the excellent play from the Thunder in the first half they lead (71)-(55).
3rd Quarter: The Thunder started off the 2nd half as about every other 2nd half they start, they always seem to give up too many points after the 1st half. The Thunder just let Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash just to go crazy in the 3rd quarter, Nash scoring around 15 points in the 3rd quarter to help the Lakers take the 3rd quarter in scoring (34)-(26). Which led the Lakers to only be down at the end of the 3rd quarter (97)-(89).
4th Quarter: The Thunder are playing a lot better in the 4th quarter compared to the 3rd. The Thunder almost let the Lakers tie the game up or even take the lead, where the Thunder had a lead as high as 17 and the Lakers brought it back to only down 5 at one point. But the Thunder out score the Lakers (25)-(16) in the 4th quarter. The Thunder showing how good they played tonight (aside from the 3rd quarter). Ending the game (122)-(105). Russell Westbrook had an amazing game with 37 points and 10 rebounds. The Thunder bench also stepping it up this game scoring 39 points compared to the very low points they've been putting up the fast few games. The Thunder also only had 2 turnovers the whole game, setting a franchise record!
Thanks are to Chris Adcox for the Thunder Thoughts. You can follow him on twitter here.
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