Thunder lose in more ways than one to the Clippers, 93-90
First, the bad news: Russell Westbrook has a small fracture in his right hand and will be out an unknown amount of time. Now, to recap this game, because oddly enough, it deserves it.
You’ve all seen this kind of game before. Typically it happens in March, and it’s between a powerhouse program and a directional mid-major. A one-seed taking on a 16, a mismatch in every single way with an inevitable ending in place before tipoff.
But then the little guy is close at halftime. Then they’re close at the under 12 media timeout. Then they withstand a run and are within a possession at the under four break. And while you still know there’s really no chance at all the 16 is going to actually spring the upset, you want to believe. Maybe, MAYBE, this is the time it happens.
After Russell Westbrook exited in the second half because of a hand injury, the Thunder were left with eight available players. Eight. And not just that, but they were now without any kind of playmaking option and left to just cycle through college style sets to try and produce something for someone.
That someone ended up being Perry Jones. After a listless performance in Portland last night, Jones cranked out an incredible career-high of 32 points on 10-17 shooting with seven rebounds and three assists. Playing in Kevin Durant’s shoes and role, he walked the walked tonight.
The Clippers allowed the Thunder to hang around and after Serge Ibaka popped 3 from the wing, it was a four-point game with 4:28 left. Against every odd, the Thunder had made it to crunchtime still in the game and had to find a way to get stops and stumble their way into points. J.J. Redick nailed an apparent dagger 3, but Ibaka had a response with a straight away 3 on a beautifully executed elevator play. Another stop and a 3 from Sebastian Telfair and the Thunder were within one, 89-88, with 1:44 to go.
The Thunder actually came up with four consecutive stops — which included a double-miss by Chris Paul at the line — but couldn’t figure out a way to execute anything to get a good look. They ran a wonderful-looking set with a backdoor lob to Jones, but Telfair was pressured and couldn’t connect on it. Telfair couldn’t connect on a floater the next possession. Steven Adams ended up with the ball and had to attempt to put it on the floor the possession after that. And still, with 13 seconds left, Telfair had a chance to put OKC up by his runner clipped the side of the backboard. Ibaka had a chance at a 3 to force overtime but it was short, and so were the Thunder.
I can tell you this: If you turned your TV off and went to bed after Westbrook was ruled out for the game, I don’t blame you. But just know, you missed one of the most incredible performances by the Thunder ever. Now, the Clippers played a big part in this, putting up an embarrassingly awful performance, missing good looks all over and doing dumb things consistently. But the Thunder played their hearts out and even with things working against them like 27 turnovers, they had a legit chance. I don’t care how bad the Clippers played, the Thunder deserved to be in it. They outworked the Clippers.
But that pride your chest swelled with at the final buzzer has evaporated entirely. What the Thunder face now is a possible month of not just missing Durant, but Westbrook as well. Hopefully Jeremy Lamb and Reggie Jackson can return to stabilize the team a bit, but either way, this is going to be difficult. The Thunder worked and executed and defended tonight, but they also kind of snuck up on the Clippers. Now, opposing teams are going to be licking their chops at a chance to put a game on OKC.
After two games though, the Thunder are an undefeated 0-2 so far this season. Enjoy the happiness while it lasts.
NOTES:
- You know what? I’m pretty sure I’d take the team on the floor tonight in a game against the one that was 3-29 in 2008. (Not the one overall team for the season. I’m talking the one that was horrible from November to December.)
- On Jones: It’s not that he figured something out. It’s that he didn’t have any other choice. Someone had to put up a shot every 24 seconds, and Jones was the best at figuring out a way to get enough space to do that. And he happened to make some of those shots. What you have to hope for now is that it built his confidence to a degree where he can replicate a portion of that semi-consistently.
- Awesome point by Coach Thorpe: “Perry Jones the latest example of ‘cats who can play if you let them, but who can’t when you don’t.'”
- Both Westbrook and Durant sat the World Cup to rest up for the reason. And now look. Is this some kind of cruel patriotic karma? I blame Fox News.
- Late third quarter lineup: Jones, Roberson, Thomas, Collison and Perkins. Perry Jones was your point guard for about three minutes. It was a moment etched in time.
- Really good move by Scott Brooks to go zone in the fourth quarter. It was really his only option, but it at least gave the Thunder a chance to match up.
- Without the ability to run much pick-and-roll, the Thunder started running Ibaka off screens like he was Durant. He knocked down two 3s and gave OKC the offensive spark it needed to have a shot. Not a great performance by Ibaka because in a game without Durant or Westbrook, he probably needs to do better than 17 points on 13 shots, but again, he’s not a player that can just go get you points. He needs a setup and the Thunder didn’t have good options.
- Westbrook sparred with a fan on his way to the locker room. Hard to know what really happened, but this video is a decent look.
- Again, damn impressed with the competitive spirit they showed. It was so good that I’ll forgive Scott Brooks the next 30 times he mentions how his team always fights and never gives up.
- If this was the Spurs tonight, can you imagine the Pop slobbering that would’ve happened?
- Also: You know what’s dumb? That it took a game like tonight’s for people to say things like, “Hey, maybe Scott Brooks can actually coach!” But here’s the thing: When you have players like Westbrook and Durant, sometimes that doesn’t leave you a ton of room to coach. Tonight, the Thunder needed Brooks. They needed some kind of direction, some kind of leadership and he delivered. He drew up a number of good sets down the stretch and kept pulling enough strings to keep it just close enough.
- I know I said this last night, but pretty incredible to watch Durant on the bench. He barely sat down and was cheering and encouraging every single possession.
- I bet the guy that shows up to the arena and sees he’s sitting by Ballmer initially thinks, “Hey! Cool!” but by the fourth quarter is scanning the arena looking for an empty anywhere else.
- Steven Adams is one of a select few defenders that is strong enough to keep Blake Griffin from bullying in the post. He just muscles him up and doesn’t let him move.
- Chris Douglas-Roberts looks like someone was trying to be funny with their MyPlayer.
- Per Deeks: “Teams can get hardship exceptions, and thus an extra roster spot, if four or more players have missed 3 or more games due to injury/illness.” Come on down, Semaj Christon!
- Why yes, I do believe I’d rather have Derek Fisher than Sebastian Telfair. (What am I even saying?)
- Andre Roberson kind of fizzled out in the second half, but he showed some really positives signs in attacking the rim off the dribble. It’s an area he’s really improved this summer. He also airballed a free throw, but baby steps!
- Adams’ offense has kind of disappeared, but then again, he’s not running pick-and-roll with an All-Star anymore.
- Some reason to hope: Both Reggie Jackson and Jeremy Lamb are set to be evaluated again when the team returns home tomorrow. Maybe they’ll be fit for Saturday.
- There’s nothing else to say. This is just shit luck.
Next up: Home against Denver on Saturday
