TrueHoop Network
An ESPN Affiliate

Daily Thunder.com

Thunder lock down the Celtics, 91-79

by Royce Young on March 10, 2013 at 4:21 pm 844 Comments

The Thunder seemed to be in control, but the Celtics, in their typical tough fashion, had Oklahoma City’s lead to three entering the fourth quarter. It was a three-point lead that felt to be in serious peril, knowing the way Boston defends and Paul Pierce’s knack for big crunchtime shots.

But with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook on the bench, the Thunder started the fourth quarter on a 10-2 run, taking that three-point lead to 12. Reggie Jackson was the main spark, scoring all six of his points in a three-minute span. Kevin Martin finished an and-1 layup and Nick Collison hit a jumper. By the time OKC’s superduo checked back in, all they had to do was hold the lead. Keep Reading…

Celtics vs. Thunder: Pregame Primer

by Royce Young on March 10, 2013 at 9:35 am 1,305 Comments

vs.

Celtics (34-27, 12-18 road) vs. Thunder (46-16, 27-4 home)

TV: ABC
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 12:00 CT

Offensive Rating: Thunder – 113.3 (1st), Celtics– 102.5 (24th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 103.2 (8th), Celtics – 102.1 (6th)
Pace: Thunder – 93.6 (8th), Celtics – 91.4 (18th)

Finally, Jeff Green makes his return to Oklahoma City. And he brings a strong Celtics side that has played some kind of inspired after Rajon Rondo went down with a knee injury. Since Rondo was hurt, Boston is 14-4 and has risen to sixth in the East, with an opportunity to get into the top four.

Keep Reading…

Saturday Morning Cartoons: Taiwanese Ibakanimation

by Royce Young on March 9, 2013 at 8:42 am 965 Comments

Happy Saturday. Thank you for your support of Daily Thunder. Bring on Spring.

The question is, does this video require any sort of breakdown, or even moderate comment to go with it? No, no it does not.

Thunder stomp the Bobcats (again), 116-94

by Royce Young on March 8, 2013 at 8:38 pm 595 Comments

BOX SCORE

Really, the only way there was going to be much to say after this game was if there was any result other than what we saw.

For a quarter, the Bobcats outplayed the Thunder, leading 29-28 after the first 12 minutes. But there were 36 more minutes to go, and the Thunder won those 88-65.

It started with a 21-0 run entirely by the Thunder’s second unit spanning the end of the first to the second quarter. In fact, before a Kevin Durant 3 broke it up, Oklahoma City’s bench scored 30 consecutive points in the first half. On the road, too. Yeah, yeah, against the Bobcats, but still, that’s a very positive thing to see from OKC’s second unit away from home. Keep Reading…

Thunder vs. Bobcats: Pregame Primer

by Royce Young on March 8, 2013 at 4:43 pm 890 Comments

vs.

Thunder (45-16, 18-12 road) at Bobcats (13-48, 7-23 home)

TV: FS Oklahoma
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 6:00 CT

Offensive Rating: Thunder – 113.0 (1st), Bobcats– 105.5 (29th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 103.1 (8th), Bobcats – 111.6 (30th)
Pace: Thunder – 93.7 (8th), Bobcats – 91.8 (15th)

View from the enemy: Queen City Hoops

Hey, the Thunder aren’t playing on national TV finally! What’s that? They’re playing the Bobcats? Oh, well that makes sense. Keep Reading…

3-on-3: Bench, please

by Royce Young on March 8, 2013 at 1:07 pm 250 Comments

Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE/Getty Images

There is nothing more confusing on this Thunder team, outside of Hasheem Thabeet’s Twitter account, than the play of its incredibly inconsistent bench. Some nights, led by Kevin Martin, it looks assertive and strong, a legit asset. Other nights, it looks like a gaping hole.

At the trade deadline, the Thunder passed on doing anything drastic to improve it, instead adding two fringe pieces. What’s the status here though? Is Reggie Jackson maybe the second unit savior? Where does Derek Fisher fit? And how good do we all feel about Martin in the biggest moments? Keep Reading…

Friday Bolts – 3.8.13

by Royce Young on March 8, 2013 at 8:49 am 346 Comments

John Rohde: “Upon entering Madison Square Garden for Thursday’s morning shoot-around, the first security I saw immediately asked about the James Harden. Security: “How could you guys not sign him?” Me: “Couldn’t afford to. No cap space and tax penalties would have been too severe.” Security: “Man, everybody has to pay taxes.” Me: “Sign Harden and it would have been about $15 million in salary and potentially $10 million in taxes. You think Harden indirectly is worth $25 million when Kevin Durant is making less than $17 million?” Security: “No, but you still should have signed him, man.” Me: “That’s the problem when you have several players turn out to be great with contracts only a year apart.” Security: “The Knicks would have paid it.” Me: “I don’t doubt it.”

Ken Berger of CBSSports.com: “Incredibly, Anthony’s knee issue robbed those in attendance and a national TV audience of what would have been the first matchup between Anthony and Durant at Madison Square Garden. It was the Thunder’s first game here since December 2010, two months before Anthony was traded from Denver to New York. “Melo’s like my big brother, and I enjoy competing against him,” said Kevin Durant, who had 34 points, eight rebounds and six assists. “But it’s better for our team that he’s not playing. I love to play against him. I hope he gets back healthy. We’ll see him in a couple of weeks anyway back in Oklahoma City. It’ll be a fun matchup, so I’m looking forward to that.” Durant paused. “Would’ve been in the Garden, playing against him,” he said. “It would’ve been a good battle, but I’m glad we got the win.” It was a good battle anyway, but one with an ending that didn’t have to be so anticlimactic.” Keep Reading…

Thunder hang on against Melo-less Knicks, 95-94

by Royce Young on March 7, 2013 at 10:46 pm 274 Comments

BOX SCORE

About 90 minutes before tipoff, the Thunder were put in one of those no-win situations. Well, actually, there was still a win up for grabs. More like a diluted-win situation. Carmelo Anthony was ruled out which meant if the Thunder won, they were supposed to. If they lost, apparent disaster.

But winning, regardless of who the other side puts on the floor, is a lot better than losing. And not to make this win over the Knicks sound special, but the Knicks without Melo — in Madison Square Garden — aren’t exactly a pushover. The Knicks without Melo period aren’t a pushover. Just ask the Heat.

Sans their best player, it put the Knicks in a situation needing one of those terrifying Step-Up Games from someone, and lucky for them, they were opposite the Thunder, a team that just loves allowing Insert Random NBA Player to step up with a career performance. Tonight, it was J.R. Smith, who fired in 36 points, the most of his season, and the most he’s scored since 2011. Keep Reading…

Celtics (34-27, 12-18 road) vs. Thunder (46-16, 27-4 home)

Thunder (45-16, 18-12 road) at Bobcats (13-48, 7-23 home)

Headlines