The Kings rallied back from a 19 point deficit in the first half to take a lead in the fourth quarter, but the Thunder forced the Kings into a tough shot late, and denied them an inbounds pass with 3/10ths of a second to seal the deal and get redemption for the overtime loss in Sacramento on Superbowl Sunday.
Tonight’s game was sort of a study in contrasts with the Kings. In the first half the Kings couldn’t get anything going. They were missing tons of open jumpers and turning the ball over-11 of them in the first half. Meanwhile the Thunder were playing incredibly well offensively. Spacing the floor, passing the ball and hitting the jumpers. The Thunder had a 38-12 points in the paint advantage at halftime and a 13 point lead. Along the way the Thunder shot 62% in the first quarter and 52% in the second, while the Kings shot 48% and 43% respectively. The Thunder also had a 7 rebound advantage at the half.
In the second half, the Kings were like a different team. They just completely outplayed us in the third. They came out and competed defensively and shot lights out. They had zero turns in the quarter and shot 15-21 (71%). Meanwhile the Thunder opened the quarter going 4-12, causing Brooks to almost light his hair on fire and calling his second timeout to try and settle the team down. Finally Durant caught fire towards the end of the third hitting some jumpers and a pair of threes to end the quarter. During the third the Thunder shot 43% and Durant notched his 30th point.
In the fourth, both teams looked like they were competing on defense, but there were very few stops. Both teams just lit it up. The Thunder shot 52% in the fourth, while the Kings shot 54%. But what was crazy was the ridiculous three point shooting by the Kings in the fourth, going 6-9 and making the crowd visibly nervous. But the Thunder forced Francisco Garcia into a terrible off balance three pointer to win with 3 seconds left to effectively seal the deal. Had Nick Collison hit his two free throws with 12 seconds left, no late game heroics would have been needed.
Randomness
- Kyle Weaver played the best, most complete game I’ve seen from him yet. He had 4 steals (all in the first half) and tipped at least one other that he didn’t recover, he hit his shots going 4-7 and scoring 9, had 4 rebounds, 2 assists and only one turn in 28 minutes. He played pesky defense on Kevin Martin all night.
- Kevin Durant and John Salmons had a nice little “back at ya” thing going on. Salmons drove on Durant several times and Durant couldn’t stay in front of him. When Durant had the ball, he either shot over Salmons or drove around him. Neither really defended the other well.
- I thought the Thunder really spread the floor well on offense tonight. They had everybody evenly spaced widely around the floor to start their offense. It causes the Kings to have to defend each man with a man, and prevents “cheating defense” where one guy sort of cheats off and tries to guard two men at once. And it really opens up the lanes for drives.
- Westbrook couldn’t get his shot to drop, nor most of his point blank finishes either. He was 1-8 in the first half and finished 3-14 on the night.
- The team seemed to really be floundering in the first half of the third. Coach subbed in Watson for Westbrook and Krstic for Collison and the offense began to flow. It had more to do with Watson than Krstic, but Watson/Weaver seemed to work much better in the third than Westbrook/Weaver.
- I am surprised at myself, but I am firmly in the “keep Earl” camp now, and no longer in the “trade Earl at the deadline” camp. Earl has been a much better player the last month or so. He shot 45% for the month of January and is at 41% so far in February. He’s also hitting 33% on his threes lately. In November and December he shot 33% and 39% from the field respectively. Check out his splits here. He provides a very nice veteran presence, and is a steadying influence on those nights when Westbrook plays like a rookie.
- The Kings were driving me nuts in the fourth quarter-they just wouldn’t go away. Those three point bombs were ridiculous. Beno Udrih hit one with the shot clock expiring from about 40 feet out.
- Speaking of Beno, we did our best to make Beno look like an All Star tonight.
Some numbers
- The pace was a fairly quick 93 possessions tonight. I had the Sacramento broadcast tonight and they mentioned more than once that the Thunder ran all the time. That’s not exactly true. The Thunder seem to run hard on defensive rebounds and turnovers, transition essentially, but just trot the ball up the court after made opponent buckets. Our average pace is 93.6, or about 7th fastest in the league.
- Offensive and defensive efficiency tonight was ridiculous. Offensively we were at 124.7, one of our highest marks of the season (only higher against Golden State and the first Nuggets game). Defensively we were at 121.5, also one of our highest marks of the season (again eclipsed in the Warriors and Nuggets game).
- Only 10 turnovers is a major accomplishment for the Thunder this season.
- The Thunder had 113 scoring opportunities (FGA + FTA), while the Kings had only 96.
- The Thunder managed to get so many more shots at the basket because we outrebounded them by 7, had one more block, and two less turns.
- Durant dropped 39 points, but left his 40th bouncing off the rim with the late free throw attempt after the botched in bounds play by the Kings.
- Durant was just simply Superman tonight. There was a stretch when I couldn’t remember the last “other” Thunder player who had scored. Durant is just the heart and soul of this team, especially offensively.
- Despite Westbrook’s shooting woes, he did chip in 8 assists and only 2 turns, 2 steals and got to the line 7 times and got 5 makes.
- Collison went for 15 and 6 in 26 minutes. He got fouled by Spencer Hawes repeatedly and did a lot of work right at the rim.
- Green was quiet tonight with 15 and 7. He just never seemed to impact the game noticebly.
- Krstic hit his jumpers and scored 15, but only got his hands on one rebound….one, in 21 minutes.
- Joe Smith was hitting the front of the rim all night on his jumpers, but did get 5 rebs in 18 minutes.
That's a great point... I think RW0's game has been the most impacted by the loss of Desmond... (well... except for Weaver). We'll see what happens over the next 10 days and then try and get settled in for the rest of the season.
Is it just me or has Westbrook's productivity gone down since the injury of Desmond forcing the team to use him as a 2 more than a 1?
Daniel, that's something that drives me nuts. It seems like we don't close quarters. The whole Blazers game, I kept telling my brother, "OK, we need to be ahead by at least 15 by the end of halftime... we need to be ahead at least by 10 heading into the fourth" and so on. That game, they closed quarters. Sometimes, they don't. And it really makes me want run through a wall.
After thinking back on the game, I have to say, the most disappointed I got was not in the second half (although I stand by my points above). It was actually at the end of the second quarter.
We got way ahead and starting playing (too) loose. Remember that 3-way back and forth fast break (I think it was RW that finally put up the shot -- hard to say because it happened so fast). Unbelievably athletic. That play looked like one of the half-time acts where they jump on trampolines and feed each other in the air while spinning around. Unfortunately, the shot didn't go in. That was a bit out of control. Although... you have to admit, it would have been sweet if the ball had gone in... definitely a highlight reel.
I think the players got too cocky and loose. The Kings went on a run and ended the half being only 13 behind. I remember thinking, "hey 13, that's not much. If they come back strong in the 3rd Q and have a little run, they'll be right back in it". And that's exactly what happened.
So, in retrospect, I would say that the last 3 minutes of the 2nd quarter was the most frustrating to me. We should have kept calm, been professional, and ended the half with a 18-20 point lead. Oh well...
@Joe:
"How many times did we get clobbered in the first and second quarters, only to rally and make a “game” of it, just to lose and take a moral victory?"
Yep. That's one good thing. Nice to be on the other side these days. Now, we can take home the "W" and let the other team have the "moral victory". Heh.
Man, we were VERY, VERY, VERY (throw in a few more if you like) LUCKY to have pulled out this win.
Garcia should have hit that 3 point shot. The way the Kings were shooting, it's a miracle it didn't go in. Had it gone in, very likely we would have gone to OT. And in OT, you had to give the edge to Sacramento because of the momentum and the unbelievable (absolutely sick) hot shooting they had. In which case, we would have seen a second loss to the Kings in OT. Just like losing twice in a similar fashion to Denver. Dejavu all over.
Had Collison made his two free throws, we'd have been at 117-113 and that probably (not guaranteed, but probably) would have sealed the deal. Had Green made his second free throw, we'd have been at 117-113 and that most certainly would have sealed the deal.
Yikes, those free throw misses at the end of the game nearly killed us. C'mon guys... please... knock those down!!!
That first half second half thing reminds me of the first part of the season under Brooks and PJ both. How many times did we get clobbered in the first and second quarters, only to rally and make a "game" of it, just to lose and take a moral victory? I bet it had to be at least ten times or more. I remember the first Utah game went that way and some others. We were just happy to be competitive, now we want them to step on the opponents throat when we have a lead.
To counter my own post somewhat, I can defend the Thunder a little. The Kings took the 4th Q by only a single point, and had Durant made the technical, that would have been a tie. And had we knocked down some of the other free throws at the end, we would have actually won the 4th Q. So, we very nearly did take a late quarter (but close only counts in horseshoes and grenade tosses).
But then, that brings up another topic. Missed free throws at the end of the game. Ugh. 1 out of 5. Nearly lost us the game. Double ugh.
Here's something I've noticed. A "mini" trend that I hope doesn't continue.
Look at the point totals by quarter for the last two games (both wins):
OKC 37 23 21 21
Portland 25 15 26 27
OKC 34 25 25 32
Sacramento 23 23 34 33
In both games, the Thunder wins quarters 1 and 2 (some very handily), then proceed to lose both the 3rd and 4th quarters.
There are two ways to look at it. The bad, of course, is that we shouldn't slack off so much after gaining early leads. The good, however, is that the team has shown the grit to hang in there and eek out wins, despite the onslaught of the opposing team's push.
I just hope this doesn't become a trend. Now matter how you look at it, it's hard not to think that defensive effort is simpy not what it should be in the second half of games where we put in a great first half.
I've noticed that as well... I've been chalking that up to unfamilarity with his teammates... but as every game goes by the validity of that excuse lessens and lessens...
It seems to me that Krstic does not have good hands. He gets to rebounds and loose balls but does not seem to lock on to the ball. And he occasionally slightly fumbles passes. I don't know this, it just seems like he's there but can't corral the ball for some reason.
Kid Delicious IS ridiculous... How incredibly awesome is it to have him here?... all franchises have a star player... but few have truely elite super stars... We've got something special here folks (as Royce noted a few entries ago)
It's funny. Watson has never really been my guy. Back two years ago I felt like we should have more Ridnour and less Watson. I Think Presti tried to trade either of them since they both had similar contracts and the Bucks were willing to take Rid. Then When Westbrook has one of those stellar nights like he does every now and then, you really don't want Watson in there. In December, he was just terrible.
Then, lately when Westbrook has a "rookie" night, Watson has been really key to a couple of victories. I am sure he wants to be on a winner as a main cog, but, really he's just what this team needs this season.
Yeah, Joe, I agree with what you're saying about Watson. He's really only had 2 bad games going back to mid-December, maybe 3 if you count his essential no-show in the first game against the Kings. Plus, his contact is going to make it hard to move him, as not too many teams are looking for a $6 million back-up PG.
Wow. I really really wish this team was still in Seattle.
Heavens, KD is ridiculous. I like having him on our team.