Thunder emphatically take Game 4, 118-94
One more. It’s an incredible thing to think about. One more.
That’s what Kevin Durant said as he walked to the bench with the Thunder up 22 with 1:55 left in the fourth quarter. One more win.
With so much talk about Draymond Green and how the Warriors caught a break, the Thunder remained unmoved. The most impressive thing about this team in the postseason has been its focus and resolve, its commitment to blocking out the noise and chatter. They didn’t waver after getting smashed by 32 in San Antonio. They didn’t shake after Game 2 in Oakland. They have remained steadfast and confident. They think they’re good enough. And now they’re proving it.
“I think it’s more of a reflection on the guys in the locker room, to be honest with you,” Billy Donovan said. “I think it has a lot to do with Russell and Kevin’s confidence. I think that trickles down into our team. They are able to put things in great perspective coming off of setbacks. And the one thing about the both of them is that when there is a setback, their ability to bounce back. They don’t wallow in it. They don’t have pity parties. They come back and go to work and try to inject who they are into our team. I think it really helps our team come back and concentrate and try to get better and improve off of maybe a setback.”
The Thunder have been saying since October that this would be a process, that they wanted to play their best basketball when it mattered. They may be a 55-win in name, but they aren’t one anymore. They have discovered themselves, a fearless, terrifying defensive monster that can lean on two of the world’s best scorers when times get tough. In Game 4, it was Russell Westbrook who held off a Klay Thompson push in the third quarter.
So many people — visiting media, mostly — have asked me, “Where the hell did this come from?” It may seem like a huge shock, and it kind of is, but this Thunder team has always been good. They’ve always had it in them. They’ve always had the potential to be something special. They’ve just finally started to unlock it. Billy Donovan deserves a lot of that credit, for staying committed and patient throughout the process, resisting the urge to react to a loss in February. He knew what he was trying to build for, and had the belief it would pay off.
In this series, he’s pulled the plug on big lineups, smartly going back to small to stare the Warriors’ “death lineup” in the face. He’s yanked Enes Kanter, and even reduced Steven Adams’ minutes, leaning on a rejuvenated Serge Ibaka. He’s coached up Dion Waiters. He’s pressed the right buttons with Durant and Westbrook. He didn’t listen to the chatter that Andre Roberson was holding the Thunder back, instead figuring out a way to make the Warriors pay for not guarding him.
“It’s funny,” Donovan said. “Like after Game 2 people are saying to me, is this guy going to even play anymore? Andre’s a good basketball player, and I think sometimes the things that go missing with him is he makes winning plays and he’s a winning player. There’s a lot of things he can do. He offensive rebounds. He slashes to the basket. I have confidence in him shooting the basketball. He’s a great worker.”
The series isn’t over. The Warriors are not going to let go of the rope on their 73-win season easily. The Thunder might have them backed into a corner, but with the series headed back to Oakland, OKC has to have their best prepped and ready. But they are one win away. Just one more performance.
NOTES:
- That third quarter was tense. It’s amazing how unguardable Klay Thompson can get. And how fast he can get there. His 19 points came in a blink, and when the Warriors got it to six, it felt like the wave was coming. The Thunder dug in, pushed the lead back to 12 heading to the fourth, and then just out-executed Golden State down the stretch.
- Here’s the thing: Durant didn’t even play all that well (offensively, that is), and the Thunder still dropped 72 in the first half and 118 total. Getting the production from Roberson (17 and 12 rebounds) was obviously a boost, but Serge Ibaka being back has been the biggest development. The fact he tried that poster in the third quarter says it all. He’s feeling good.
- Durant’s defense has been simply sensational. There was a stat from ESPN Stats & Info tonight about Curry being 1-8 against Durant in this series. But it’s his work as the 4 in that small lineup, protecting the rim and using his length to blow up everything. I’ve always said Durant is woefully underrated defensively. He’s just showing it off right now.
- The noise in that first quarter was something else.
- So Draymond Green. He stunk. His last two games, he’s a -73 combined.
- Green tripped Enes Kanter in the first half. It wasn’t an obvious trip, but it was a trip.
- However, the Thunder kept showing it on the big screen during timeouts. Like throughout the first half. It was completely obnoxious.
- You guys won’t believe this, but Andre Iguodala has never committed a foul in his career.
- Steph Curry says he’s healthy. He might not be. Who knows. He sure didn’t look like himself tonight going 6-20 with six turnovers. It’s a funny thing, nobody was questioning his health after Game 2. Instead of saying, “Hey, Russell Westbrook’s defense was awesome on Steph tonight,” people are assuming the MVP must just not be healthy.
- There is no doubt that Curry was off. Missed some layups and some open looks. But that can also be the effect of a swarming defense.
- Steven Adams showing off the passing tonight. That bullet to Roberson was spectacular. Sabonis-like.
- Great postgame moment: The media was all gathered in one spot in the locker room waiting on players to step into the middle for interviews. Nazr Mohammed jumped in there — jokingly — knowing the media would be like, “What’s this guy doing here?” As Westbrook, Durant and Waiters all busted up laughing, Mohammed walked away, saying, “Both teams played hard.”
- Game 5 is going to be a tough one.
Next up: Game 5 in Oakland on Thursday
