Thunder almost welp but then don’t welp against the Clippers, 119-117
Game recap: lol.
I mean, they won. I guess. The scoreboard says so at least.
But the effort it took to beat the Chris Paul, J.J. Redick and DeAndre Jordan-less Clippers was certainly a bit embarrassing. It’s the NBA. If you’ve watched long enough you know that random dudes can go off and games that shouldn’t be close can be so. But really, the Clippers should’ve won this game. It wasn’t like the Thunder just completely pooped the bed or anything. The Clippers led for most of the second half and it was just some standard Westbrookian heroics that bailed OKC out.
A couple big shots, a Russell Westbrook steal, a Steven Adams tip-in game-winner, a Westbrook rebound — all normal stuff. It’s just too bad it had to happen against Austin Rivers and Wes Johnson.
Clearly, the Thunder are relaxing a little as the playoffs near. The night off in Detroit was the beginning of it and with the Clippers taking it easy here, there was a loss of focus and intensity. Different times it seemed like the Thunder were going to snap out of it, like when they started the second half on an 8-0 run. But the Clippers inexplicably kept making shots, and kept holding a lead.
Now, before you get too awful upset, you do have to acknowledge that Austin Rivers dropping 32 on 7-9 from 3 is basically the most random thing that could happen. Even Rivers seemed surprised they kept falling. So much so that for whatever reason he didn’t fire a 3 to try and win the game, instead driving for the tie. I’m so disappointed in you, Austin.
If you want to use this bad performance as a springboard to gripe, whatever. I think it’s pretty clear what happened. The Thunder didn’t care all that much, the Clippers played real hard, and a lot of shots went in the basket. I don’t think this was a defensive relapse, as much as it was surviving Austin Freaking Rivers hitting 7-9 from 3.
Only one more home game to go.
NOTES:
- Sometimes in these type of games, they go two ways: 1) the backup dudes play like they normally do, but get more possessions and opportunities than normal and it results in a 15 to 20 point win or 2) the backup dudes take advantage of the higher usage and play with confidence knowing they’re going to get bigger minutes. The latter happened tonight. And of course it helped that the Thunder weren’t locked in whatsoever.
- The shot selection in the fourth quarter was horrific. Durant, specifically, kept trying to make 10-point 3s. It seemed like he was trying to draw fouls on them or something.
- The big screen showed a trailer for Trainwreck right after the first half ended. Appropriate.
- I got to watch the best game that has ever been and ever will be of Austin Rivers career. What a feeling.
- Did you know: Andre Roberson is 10-20 from 3 his last 14 games. He was 2-4 tonight. He did have one airball tonight, so that makes 50 percent feel more like 38 percent.
- Doc Rivers was arguing a call in the second quarter and a fan yelled, “Calm down Doc, it’s just a practice game,” and Doc turned around and said, “That’s true.”
- You’ve pretty much got to have Payne on the floor with Durant to start the third quarter. Foye just can’t run the team consistently and provide KD with the extra ballhandler he needs alongside.
- Westbrook has a pregame routine where he fist bumps all the Thunder game ops people at the scoretable before tipoff. But with it being a TNT game, there were sportswriters sitting where normally the FSOK people would sit. Westbrook came up for his fist bumps, and pulled it back when he realized it wasn’t his normal people. Cold.
- One suggestion from a reader: Why not go ahead and rest Singler, just to, you know, make sure he’s ready for next season or something.
- Serge Ibaka with another strong game.
- Steven Adams said he got “lucky” on his game-winner. Also said he had a bunch in high school, then added, “That’s a lie. But you guys don’t know that”
- Donovan on Westbrook: “I’ve seen a lot of guys plays and he’s by far the best loose ball guy I’ve ever seen. He has an incredible ability, and if you watch him he’s engaging when he shoots free throws. He notices right where it’s missing, where it’s going to go. He watches the flight. He seems shots go up and all of sudden he’s taking off before anybody else is moving. He’s got great speed and closing speed to come up with those plays.”
- Just 16 minutes for Dion Waiters. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Next up: At the Rockets on Sunday
