Thunder torch the Suns 112-88, closing in on No. 8

Royce Young -

BOX SCORE

Ahem. So the Thunder are good again.

The Suns are their current prey, a team standing in front of them and the initial goal. After the hellacious beatdown the Thunder released on Sunday, it would appear the Suns won’t be their primary concern much longer.

That’s now six straight wins, and eight out of nine for the Thunder who closed to within a half game of the No. 8 seed in the West. And while a solid gap still remains between them and anything higher than that — 5.5 out of seventh and 10.5 behind the Warriors — with 58 games to go, the Thunder can probably stop worrying about just getting in, and start thinking about climbing the ladder.

“We’re only 24 games in,” Kevin Durant said. “We’re not even close to the halfway point of the season yet. It’s too early to think about that. We just want to continue to build our habits and play good basketball.”

Much like the win Friday in Minnesota, the Thunder’s beat down of the Suns was pretty straightforward. A red-hot first quarter (41 points) built an early lead, and from there the Thunder just poured it on. Russell Westbrook was outrageous once again, going for 28-8-8 in just 27 minutes while Durant put up a smooth 23 in 24 minutes.

What we’re seeing is exactly what the idea was all along. Set a standard of play in November with strong defense and a deeper, more confident roster, then plug two top five players back into the mix and kick back and watch them burn down the rest of the league.

“I knew that we could help,” Durant said of he and Westbrook’s return. “I knew that we’ve played here so long and had some success, so I knew we could help. But I was proud of our guys. I was proud with the way they competed. I knew that they needed an extra push and that’s what Russell and I have provided.”

Though he only got 24 minutes, Durant’s minute restriction was actually raised tonight. Scott Brooks wouldn’t say what to, but with Durant playing 19 minutes in the first half, it enabled him longer stretches on the floor and a much less uncomfortable substitution pattern. The Thunder have been playing well since his return (6-1), but this is a very important thing. It doesn’t take a basketball scientist to deduce it, but more Durant on the floor is good for the Thunder. It means more time for he and Westbrook to abuse opposing defenses together, and creates a much better flow between the first and second units.

The Thunder have a big week ahead in closing the remaining ground and continuing to push higher. At Sacramento on Tuesday, then at the Warriors Thursday and at the Lakers on Friday. Removing something disastrous, it’s pretty obvious the Thunder are going to be playing in late April, and now they can start focusing in on improving their predicament.

NOTES:

  • Westbrook’s 20-5-5 streak? He took it to eight games tonight and did it IN THE FIRST FREAKING HALF.
  • Final line for Westbrook: 28 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
  • Westbrook scored his first 14 points on just three shots and got so carried away with it that he actually tried a floater.
  • So it’s still way early and he’s only played 10 games but yeah, it’s time to start adding Russell Westbrook’s name to the MVP list.
  • The crowd was fired up tonight. That’s one thing that gets overlooked when people rave about OKC’s crowd: they’re smart. They knew the stakes of this game and brought the appropriate energy for it.
  • A game after the Thunder dropped a season-high in points for the first quarter in Minnesota, they topped that with 41 in the first tonight. Seems like the offense is good again.
  • Scott Brooks wouldn’t say specifically what it was, but Durant minute restriction has been raised. He played 19 minutes in the first half, but only 25 for the game because of the blowout nature of things. If we’re extrapolating, Durant might’ve been allowed 38-40 I guess.
  • Durant had a much better offensive rhythm in the first half tonight. He finished with 23 on 8 of 13, with 19 coming the opening half.
  • After KD got rookie T.J. Warren on a rip move with OKC in the bonus, Jeff Hornacek called the rookie over: “Did you not see the scouting report?” Here’s another idea: Don’t put a rookie on Durant with OKC in the bonus. He gets them every time.
  • Anthony Morrow missed his first two shots, then came to the scoretable and said, “I’m not missing no more.” He hit his next one. Then missed a couple more. That was almost cool!
  • One thing I will never understand with Westbrook is why he continues to take 30-footers with three seconds on the shot clock. He sees the clock ticking and always goes for the desperation. Why????? Dude can run the entire length of the court in three seconds. Take at least one or two dribbles in at least.
  • Morrow might actually be the most excitable player on the team. Which is of course saying something with Westbrook currently still on the roster.
  • Quality off-the-cuff nickname for Morrow from another writer: 2Turnt.
  • Maybe my favorite moment this season: As P.J. Tucker was about to throw the ball inbounds, he and Russell Westbrook got hit with double-techs. Tucker dropped the ball and started walking to the other side of the court like he thought there were free throws coming, and Westbrook said, “Now go take the ball out dumbass.”
  • Word on Jeremy Lamb is he has a sore foot. He could’ve played, but with the game being a blowout, was just held out for cautionary reasons.
  • The Thunder outrebounded the Suns 63-40.
  • Steven Adams with another very strong performance: six points and eight boards in 25 minutes.
  • Highlight: Westbrook winning a jump ball against the 7-1 Alex Len.
  • Let me just say, home run by Perk. He had all day to think up his comeback, and he couldn’t have done it any better.
  • Also: Ten rebounds tonight for Perk. First double-digit rebound game for him since Feb. 9. Clowin’ ’em.
  • So I died when Westbrook took that awkward fall in the third quarter. Just now started breathing again.
  • NBA debut for Mitch McGary tonight. He had three points in seven garbage time minutes.
  • Cracked me up how hard McGary runs up and down the floor. Dude is running wind sprints out there.
  • If Markieff ever has a bad game while Marcus has a good one, why aren’t we ever asking the pertinent question: Did they just switch jerseys that night to mess with us?
  • Great stat from Anthony Slater: “In the past two games, the Thunder has led by double-digits for 82 of the 96 minutes. Been ahead for all but 139 seconds. Never trailed.”
  • No Goran Dragic tonight, which meant there was none of my favorite random Westbrook rivalry. He hates Dragic.

Next up: At the Kings on Tuesday