Sans Durant, Thunder take care of the Magic, 104-97
The takeaway from Monday’s game against the Magic: The Thunder did not lose. They did the opposite of that.
Outside of that keen observation, there’s not a ton to file away here. Other than getting frustrated they didn’t play like that against the Knicks. With Kevin Durant sitting with the sprained toe again, Russell Westbrook played a fantastic, controlled game, picking up his second triple-double of the season (25 points, 11 rebounds, 14 assists). Dion Waiters started in place of Durant (Perry Jones was out with a sore left ankle) and scored 24 on 9-15 shooting. Serge Ibaka had 16, eight rebounds and three blocks. Anthony Morrow added 15.
Playing against an inferior team that has been on terrible form the last few weeks, the Thunder did exactly what you’d expect them to do. If not for the Thunder’s inconsistent play, this would just be one for the bookkeeping, and it would be on to the next one. You can say the Thunder looked better, though, playing a with a little more confidence and style than they have the past two weeks. Westbrook was almost flawless, the defense was good enough, and the flow and rhythm at last appeared to be returning.
“I think we’ve just got to loosen up,” Andre Roberson said. “We’ve been putting a lot of stress on ourselves. Which rightfully so. Still trying to get to the playoffs. But we’ve got to go out there and have fun. That’s when we play best and that’s why we play the game.”
The way the Thunder looked against the Knicks, the fear and anxiety seemed to catch up to them. As soon as that game got tight, there was an obvious worry that set in. They played a decent three quarters in Memphis, but fizzled out in the fourth. Against the hapless Magic, they at least seemed to open up a bit.
“I don’t know if we’ve been pressing or not,” Westbrook said. “I mean, we’ve lost a few games on a few other things. But tonight we just came out and played our game and that’s what we’ve got to do for the rest of the year.”
It’s back to .500, but again, this team has to convince me they’re ready to start turning a corner. I need to see to believe. The Suns lost and the Pelicans won, so the Thunder are just two back in the loss column for the eight-seed. And they play consecutive games against the Pelicans this week. They’re still very much in this, mathematically speaking, but if they’re to be taken seriously, this win against the Magic can’t exist as another outlier. It has to build to something better.
NOTES:
- Durant is day to day with his sprained toe. He went through limited shootaround this morning and made the call to sit this one. A smart move considering the Thunder SHOULD be able to beat the Magic in OKC without him, as well as he definitely didn’t look like himself in Memphis on Saturday.
- Getting his first Thunder start was Waiters, and he played his best game with OKC yet. He set an early tone by attacking the rim and while he didn’t finish a couple of them, he at least had the right mindset. He left the long step-back 2s for later once he had a little confidence and rhythm going. And he knocked down two catch-and-shoot 3s, both from the wing.
- Waiters only had one assist, but he could’ve had a few more, including the beautiful drive-and-dish he had to Perk that resulted in a shooting foul.
- Westbrook: “My job was to make sure is getting the ball and make sure everybody is in a position to score and that was one of those nights.”
- Here’s my question for Westbrook that I didn’t ask him because eff that: He often says, “My job is to attack,” and then tonight he says his job was to set up. Does it his job change game to game? I think we can all agree this incarnation of Westbrook is when he’s at his very best. So can’t we make this his full-time gig?
- Westbrook was asked if he knew he was getting close to the triple-double: “I knew we was winning.”
- I kind of quit paying attention late in the fourth and looked up after Willie Green hit a 3 and the Magic had cut the lead to eight. But Westbrook came back with a smooth dagger to put things away for good.
- Steven Adams needs more post touches dot com.
- Andre Roberson has now hit six of his last 11 3-pointers. (He went 0-3 tonight and airballed a wide open one.)
- Pretty remarkable stat: Roberson is 0-22 from 3 at home this season. He’s 11-29 on the road (h/t @lcdollarjr). I asked Roberson about it and he gave a pretty blah answer: “I’m not sure. I’m sticking with it. It’s a day by day process. Some nights I go 0-for-3, some nights I’ll go 2-for-2. It’s a process, I’m sticking with it and I’m continuing to work hard every day and do as best I can for my team.”
- Oh, and if you say things like, “Roberson is not an NBA player” or “he’s the worst shooting guard in the NBA,” you should also say with that, “I only watch when he shoots a 3.”
- ALTHOUGH, if you want to make a case for Waiters to start, I’m listening. I think his defense is better than his reputation suggests, and he seems to play better alongside Westbrook than Jackson. Starting Waiters does limit your bench pop significantly, because it means Roberson either doesn’t play, or he’s getting 12-15 minutes with an already weak scoring second unit.
- Tonight was only Westbrook’s second first half double-double. The other came in 2009 against the Warriors.
- Mitch McGary is apparently back from injury.
- First time the Thunder have cracked 100 points in regulation in seven games. Last game it happened? Against the Magic.
- Jackson in 16 minutes tonight: zero points on 0-4 shooting, four rebounds, three assists. Lately, he’s played a lot more like Westbrook’s backup than near max-level guard.
- Anthony Morrow went 3-3 from 3 tonight. He’s about to shoot 75 percent from 3 in February isn’t he?
- Morrow: “Same shot, same work ethic. I’ll say it again; when it goes in, it goes in. Sometimes it doesn’t go in.”
- Audible MVP chants for Perk as he stepped to the line late in the fourth. Shouts out to those people.
- Big step tonight: Waiters successfully completed a breakaway opportunity.
- Zach Zarba, you guys. So damn handsome.
- Couple people have asked: Durant was at the game tonight, but not on the bench. Saw him in the hallway after. Wearing sneakers.
- Billy King said this to the Nets official website: “We’re NOT making (trade) calls. Calls are coming in.” I can tell you with a reasonable amount of confidence that’s 100 percent a lie.
- The Thunder have won seven straight at home and 12 of 14. Relevant: They play 20 of their final 34 at home this season.
Next up: At the Pelicans on Wednesday
