Tensions run hot as the Rockets and Thunder run cold

BOX SCORE

For a game that featured a final score totaling 134 points, both teams shooting under 30 percent and a combined 10-of-54 from 3-point range, that was intense.

Hard fouls, lots of trash talk, flagrants, flops, technicals, double-technicals, coaches bumrushing referees, players (maybe?) headbutting referees — I’d say the Thunder’s game against the Rockets had it all, but that would be implying there was good basketball being played in between all the shenanigans. It wasn’t good. But it was certainly interesting.

The long-short of it is this: The Thunder scrapped and clawed to 65-65 with 1:59, tying the game on a Reggie Jackson free throw awarded when Trevor Ariza fell victim to Steven Adams, picking up a technical for a shove. The Thunder got a stop, but couldn’t get a rebound — a theme for the evening — and watched as James Harden hit a Game-5-dagger-in-San-Antonio-esque step-back 3 over Jeremy Lamb to put the Rockets up, 68-65 with 1:19 left.

The next sequence seemed to be a perfect setup. Jackson couldn’t finish a layup, but Steven Adams soared in and inhaled the offensive rebound. He kicked out and the ball found a wide open Lamb who pump-faked an onrushing closeout. A chance to tie the game, a chance to answer Harden’s dagger, with it set up by Adams and Lamb, the two key pieces acquired in The Trade.

Alas, Lamb missed long, and despite Thunder stop after Harden missed another step-back 3, Jackson wasn’t able to connect on a weird game-tying 3-point attempt from 30 feet with 10 seconds left. Another inspired performance from the Thunder; and another loss, 69-65. (Yes, that was the actual final score.)

“We should have got a better look,” Brooks said of Jackson’s shot. “But these are experiences [Jackson] is learning on the fly. He’s played well for us and he’s going to continue to play well for us. But it was probably [supposed to be] a shot that was created off the dribble penetration or and-1 for him or a kickout 3, would’ve been better.”

Any other player, you’d just chalk up the horrific shot to inexperience in that moment, and maybe a bit of panic. But with Jackson, there’s always something more to read in to. He so desperately wants to prove he’s worthy of being a star(ter) that he was willing to do what so many other Wannabe Stars, like J.R. Smiths of the word, tend to do. He wants to shoulder the responsibility, he wants to take and make the big shots. He failed against the Pistons and proceeded to assign all the blame for the loss to himself, so when it came down to the Thunder tying up the Rockets, let the play call be damned — Reggie was gon’ Reggie.

“Got a switch out with Dwight [Howard], there was a little confusion,” Jackson said. “He was a few steps back and I was comfortable with the shot. At the same time, with how much time was on the clock, I could have attacked … I felt real comfortable with it and I thought it was going in.”

The miss leaves the Thunder now 3-8, as the hole they’re falling into gets a little deeper day by day. Their horses are only a couple of weeks from returning, with Perry Jones and Andre Roberson likely back within the week, but this is a team that hasn’t lost its eighth game until Jan. 7 the past two seasons. This is a team that isn’t interested in just making the playoffs — they want to win the playoffs. But at this point, the former is becoming the concern.

“Right now, we’ve got too much for us to think about for us to dive into that question,” Brooks said. “We want to improve the group we have. Our guys will be back. We definitely want to win some games along the way… but we’re not looking at the playoffs. We’re just focusing on today.”

Today has the Thunder licking their wounds yet again, left to look at the scoreboard and try and rationalize another close call. The effort was there. The energy was there. But the win wasn’t. The defense they played was inspired, holding Harden to 5-17 shooting and Howard to 4-14. The Thunder have put themselves in a unique position almost every time out, finding a way somehow, someway to have a chance in the fourth quarter. Chances are good. But wins are what count.

NOTES:

• Allow me a hot take on Pat Beverley: I don’t think the guy can actually play, and as things go on, it’s going to become more and more obvious. Eventually, the irritant shtick is going to run its course. He does one thing exceptionally well — he tries really, really hard. And that can make a decent defender, especially on random Sunday night games in an 82-game NBA regular season where some players are only half-interested. But he’s guaranteed to be playing hard and he’s earning checks on that. Good for him. But, I don’t see him as all that different a player than say, a Lance Thomas, except that within his effort, he makes a clear attempt to be a complete asshole, which infuriates opponents and sometimes gets in their head.

• Kind of surprised, but definitely more applause than booing for James Harden in introductions. Not the case for Patrick Beverley however. Though I would say the booing was much more tepid than usual. Fans were quickly reminded of their relationship with him.

• Fun exchange between Russell Westbrook and a guy wearing a Lakers shirt in the crowd. The guy yelled out, “Russ! Come to LA! You can shoot all you want!” Westbrook responded with, “Get your ass outta here and go back to LA.”

• Since Morrow’s hot shooting night in Boston, he’s 5-24 from the field and 2-11 from 3.

• Anthony Morrow might’ve shot decently tonight, had his jumper not been blocked like 30 times.

• Jackson was very honest and his normal thoughtful self postgame. But man, he took an INCREDIBLE amount of time getting dressed while reporters waited for him. Like, it was getting to the point of he was being weird about it. I watched him intricately fold three t-shirts up, like it was the most important thing in the world to make sure the edges were all lined up. He checked his phone, he folded up his headphones cord like he was diffusing a bomb — he just took his time as much as humanly possible. He’s never done that. I don’t know if he was trying to wait some of the media out or something, but it was enough time for me to waste an entire paragraph writing about it.

• I asked if he has any issue with the way he plays: “We haven’t had any altercations. Of course back when he hurt Russ, unfortunately, that happened, but we still hold that near and dear so I think that’s why these two teams still battle. But at the same time you respect a guy who goes out there and gives it his all and does all the dirty work that they need him to do. He’s out there competing. If he gets under your skin, then so be it. He’s going to compete defensively to the best of his ability and try to get under your skin and offensively he does what he can. I don’t have a problem with it at all.”

• Jackson on Beverley: “He’s a dog. He’s an intense player. That’s what they need from him. He’s fiery, he’s doesn’t back down from anybody. You’ve got to respect that about him.”

• It says a lot about what Kevin McHale thinks of James Harden’s defense that he started the game on Lance Thomas.
• Ish Smith is better than Telfair. When the hardship exception expires, I motion to dump Telfair and keep Smith.

• Adams and Perk did do supreme work on Howard though. Howard got a couple baskets in the post on Perk, but all of them were of the highest difficulty.

• Ibaka, six boards as well. Not good enough either.

• Steven Adams had six blocks, all in the first half. Just one point and six rebounds, though. And in a game where the Rockets had 22 offensive boards, and the game essentially decided on one, that’s not good enough at all.

• Ariza did a fantastic job on Jackson all night. The Rockets’ gameplan was simple: Use Ariza to eliminate Jackson’s midrange pull-up game, letting him press and use his length. If Jackson beat him with the dribble, Howard rotated freely and cut off any attack on the basket, forcing Jackson to kick. Jackson didn’t do a great job of finding shooters and when he did, nobody made anything.

• The Thunder’s leading scorers: Lance Thomas and Reggie Jackson with 15. Oof.

• After taking just six free throws and making one against the Pistons, the Thunder survived only by the free throw line tonight, taking 28 and hitting 22.

• It wasn’t just that play. Howard gave Adams a nice little shot in the first first half, Adams got into it with Ariza, Perk and Beverley got double-techs and Durant did plenty of talking with Howard from the sideline. There are some ideas as to what was said, but I couldn’t be sure.

• It was pretty clear that Brooks was unhappy with Beverley bumping and jawing after the whistle, even leaning in for a headbutt, a smooch or to whisper in Kennedy’s ear. Brooks rushed Kennedy and said pretty obviously, “Don’t let him do that shit!” Beverley started talking to Brooks, the two teams did the thing were they start getting close to each other huddle-style, the refs reviewed the play and somehow after all of that, Sebastian Telfair got a technical.

• So, about all that nonsense. Here’s how Scott Brooks explained it: “I called a timeout. I saw Beverley in his face and you never know what can happen in this league. You can get some surprises at times. It was a little word for Bill [Kennedy]. I don’t know, I don’t know what was going on. I was trying to separate our guys to get back. But it’s part of the game. Just called timeout and tried to regroup.”

• Boy, the Rockets employ some unlikeable people. Beverley, Harden, Howard, Fransisco Garcia, Jason Terry — they’ve even done and gone made Ariza a jerk all of a sudden.

• I think the Thunder should sign ref Kevin Cutler to a deal next season. Dude looks like a physical specimen. Between him and Billy Kennedy, if there was a fight tonight, the NBA had the right crew on the game.

Next up: At Utah on Tuesday