Bradley Beal’s 25 Points Lead The Wizards To Victory Over Oklahoma City (116-98)

Bradley Beal’s 25 Points Lead The Wizards To Victory Over Oklahoma City (116-98)

Featured

by | Jan 7, 2019 | Featured

The Oklahoma City Thunder were back home after their road trip and ran into a Wizards team determined to get a win for their coach. Scott Brooks has yet to win a game in Oklahoma City since becoming the Washington Wizards Head Coach. Tonight was the night that Brooks would get his first victory in the place he once called “Home”. The Wizards came out shooting lights out in this game and jumped on the Thunder from the very start. One very bright spot for the Washington Wizards was the play of Bradley Beal. The way he’s been playing as of late has been impressive. Bradley Beal’s averaging 24 points on the season and was able to put that on display tonight. Beal was able to score off screens and picks all night long with ease. One thing that was noticeable tonight was the fact that Beal can make some tough shots. Beal hit a couple of shots over Steven Adams and Jerami Grant tonight that looked impossible. Bradley Beal finished with 25 points on the night but got a lot of help from his teammates throughout the game. The Wizards had 5 players in double figures tonight and Otto Porter Jr. was the player that stepped up to help out Bradley Beal on the night. Otto was able to make the Thunder pay from the 3 point line and he was attacking the paint when defenders thought he would stay at the 3 point line. Another player that was making the best of his opportunities was Jeff Green. It seemed like when the Wizards needed a momentum shift Jeff Green was there for the answer as he poured in 16 points. Jeff Green was able to space the floor out for the Wizards and create problems for the Thunder on that perimeter. The Thunder got outrebounded which rarely happens and they dropped the ball tonight against the Wizards. The rebound margin was 55-41 as that margin helped the Wizards on second-chance points and controlling the clock late.

The Thunder dropped this one to the Wizards and they were getting beat on hustle plays and rebounding all night. OKC shot 43% from the field for the game it was the turnovers and getting outrebounded that got them tonight against the Wizards. Paul George didn’t have his best game but he seemed to be banged up in that second quarter which altered his game a little. PG-13 finished with 20 points on the night but had some great looks they just didn’t fall. This is the first time in over a month that Paul George was off like tonight and it was rare to see. George will try to bounce back on Tuesday against the Timberwolves and get his shooting rhythm back on track. One thing that is for sure about Paul George is the fact he will give you his all and will shoot until they fall.

Russell Westbrook had his game going tonight and was able to grab another triple-double tonight finishing with 22 points, 13 assists, and 15 rebounds. Westbrook can beat opposing point guard on a nightly basis but when the game is out of reach like tonight it’s tough. The former MVP was getting his teammates involved and was able to make things happen while he was in the game. The Thunder second unit came in and lost some momentum late in the game which the Wizards jumped on when Westbrook/George took a rest. The Thunder had something going when they were getting the ball to Steven Adams in the post but managed to get away from that after the first half. If the Thunder kept pounding the paint things could of went differently.

Overall the Thunder will bounce back and have the chance to on Tuesday against the Timberwolves who just fired their head coach tonight.

Jan 7, 2019 No Comments
Russell Westbrook’s 10th Triple-Double Helps OKC Defeat The Mavericks (122-102)

Russell Westbrook’s 10th Triple-Double Helps OKC Defeat The Mavericks (122-102)

Featured

by | Jan 1, 2019 | Featured, NBA

The Oklahoma City Thunder lost last night to the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas and were looking for revenge. Russell Westbrook came out and set the tone for tonight immediately from the tip. Westbrook was coming into tonight’s game after having a decent shooting performance the night before and made the Mavs pay. Westbrook was able to bully anyone that was guarding him in the post and made the most of every possession. When Westbrook gets in the zone that he was in tonight he’s completely unguardable. The Mavericks were throwing everyone at Westbrook tonight and it didn’t matter. Westbrook spoke highly of himself being one of the best point guards if not the best and was punishing anyone guarding him.

The Mavs had Smith Jr, Barea, and Harris guarding him and he was able to have his way using the glass with the bank shot or just going to the hole with ease. Westbrook finished the game with 32 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists on the night. The Thunder defense played a big part in the margin of victory as the Thunder had 13 steals and were able to turn those steals into points. When Paul George and Russell Westbrook get into those passing lanes other teams are forced to adjust their game and that’s what happened tonight. Paul George used those steals and his defense to get his game going as well as he finished with 22 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals on the night. Paul George was able to get his shot when he wanted and was taking it personal with his matchup against Luka tonight as he wanted to put a stop to his offensive explosions of late. Luka was able to finish with 17 points but it was Harrison Barnes who caught fire tonight for the Mavericks. Barnes had 25 points on the night and was the only bright spot as he came out firing in the 3rd quarter. The Mavericks were able to get it down to at least 11 points but the Thunder had too much momentum and firepower tonight.

The Thunder had 6 players in double figures tonight and were able to get anything they wanted in the paint. The Mavericks were in foul trouble for their interior players and OKC took advantage of that right away. The Thunder will be hitting the road in LA and Portland before they come back home on the 6th to play the Wizards.

 

 

Photo Credit:  Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman

 

Jan 1, 2019 No Comments
OKC Thunder Lose Tough One To The Rockets On Christmas Day (113-109)

OKC Thunder Lose Tough One To The Rockets On Christmas Day (113-109)

Featured

by | Dec 26, 2018 | Featured

The Oklahoma City Thunder faced off against the Houston Rockets today in Houston. The outcome wasn’t what the Thunder wanted but there were a lot of positives to take out of the game. The Thunder started out the gates playing aggressive and let their defense translate to offense. Both Russell Westbrook and Paul George love getting in those passing lanes. Combined both of them had 7 steals on the day and were able to create off those turnovers. The Thunder offense didn’t come easy tonight as they worked for a lot of the looks they got to go in. Houston isn’t known for their defense but made some big plays throughout the game in moments that impacted the outcome. One of the bright spots in the Houston Rockets defense and offense was Clint Capela. The Thunder weren’t able to box out Capela for the majority of the game as he finished with 16 points and 23 rebounds. Capela was able to do a lot of his damage when Steven Adams was out the game for his rest and in that 3rd quarter, it got out of hand real quick. The Rockets had control of the boards which is rare to see against the Thunder especially this season.

Paul George did his part on the rebounds as he finished with 14 and was able to play aggressively in the open court. Both Russell Westbrook and Paul George are extremely deadly when it comes to putting pressure on the defense in the open court after a rebound or steal. Paul George has been able to show that he’s a true two-way player as he was able to guard James Harden throughout the game and still managed to be the Thunder leading scorer with 28 points. The growth that Paul George has shown this season has been incredible and also he looks a lot more comfortable in the flow of the offense. Paul George has been on fire as of late and even though he didn’t have the best shooting night he was able to lean on his teammates to help him out. It doesn’t hurt to have an MVP in Russell Westbrook as someone to have your back. Westbrook finished the game with 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists on the day. The Rockets tried to get Westbrook off his game today with multiple switches and different looks but Westbrook still managed to dominate his matchup with Austin Rivers. The Thunder had 5 players in double figures and showed a lot of ball movement and trust within each other which is great moving forward. The Thunder had an 11 point lead at a point in the game and lost the momentum as soon as Westbrook and George went to the bench.

James Harden the reigning MVP came to play tonight and the Thunder had Paul George blanketing his every move today. Harden finished with 41 points on 35 shots tonight with 20 misses. The Thunder did their job on the defensive end it was the loose balls and second-chance points that got them in the end. James Harden to his credit was hitting shots with defenders right in his face and was able to create for his teammates. When Harden’s playing like this getting to the line and the basket with his penetration it’s tough to stop the Rockets because it opens up the middle for the bigs. James Harden did James Harden like things tonight down the stretch but this is a new Thunder team with a different defensive mentality. Both these teams will run into each other again and it should be just as good as this one on Christmas Day.

 

Here are some of the Christmas Day Sneakers in this game

The Thunder will play the Phoenix Suns next on Thursday as they hope to get back in the win column.

Dec 26, 2018 No Comments
Paul George’s 33 Point Performance Leads OKC To Victory Over The Clippers (110-104)

Paul George’s 33 Point Performance Leads OKC To Victory Over The Clippers (110-104)

Featured

by | Dec 16, 2018 | Featured, NBA

The Oklahoma City Thunder came into tonight’s game on a two-game losing streak. The Thunder wanted to bounce back after their loss to the Pelicans the other night and did just that. Paul George was able to carry a lot of the load tonight as he finished with a game-high 33 points. The Thunder were able to beat up the Clippers in the paint all night that set the tone for the night. Steven Adams was able to get anything he wanted in the paint against Harrell and Gortat. When Steven Adams has the chance to dominate the paint like he did tonight the Thunder look unstoppable. Adams finished with 16 points and 5 rebounds tonight against the Clippers. No one had an answer for Adams in the paint from the Clippers and it was extremely noticeable. When Adams has his hook shot going and he’s drawing the double team it opens up more for his teammates.

The one thing that was working for the Clippers that kept them in the game was Danilo Gallinari’s 3 point shooting. He finished with 28 points but was (4-6) from the 3 point line while shooting (10-16) on the night. Tobias Harris was doing an amazing job as well for the Clippers. Harris was able to go to the basket with ease and made some very tough shots to finish with 22 points on the night. The Clippers had 26 turnovers in the game and weren’t making the right decisions when it came down to crunch time. The Clippers were hanging around but could never get within 5 points of the Thunder. Every time the Clippers would get within 10 points Paul George or Russell Westbrook would display their greatness. Paul George was able to score any way that he wanted tonight against the Clippers. The string of games that PG-13 has been able to put together as of late have him in the thick of the MVP talks. Paul George has been shooting lights out from the 3 point line and the Clippers couldn’t stop him at all. The rhythm that Paul George is shooting in right now is close to some of his best since Indiana. The best thing about the Thunder is the fact that Paul George and Russell Westbrook are 1st and 2nd in the NBA in steals. Paul George has grown confidence in his play and has been extremely comfortable within this offense on the season.

 

 

Russell Westbrook has shown a lot of maturity within his game and has been able to flourish as the leader. Westbrook has been able to play off of Paul George’s great shooting and he’s been able to still dominate. Westbrook had 13 points, 12 assists, and 9 rebounds on the night and still was able to have a huge impact on the game. When you can impact the game in every way without having to always score or make the play that’s something special. Russell Westbrook has been able to dominate his position night in and night out. Patrick Beverley was guarding Russell Westbrook tonight but he wasn’t able to phase the former MVP as Westbrook still made plays for his teammates. The thing that is so amazing about this Thunder team this year and the ball movement. The Thunder ball movement has very good and they’re looking for Steven Adams early. The Thunder had 5 players in double figures tonight against the Clippers and will look to get another win under their belt against the Bulls on Monday. Russell Westbrook passed Kobe Bryant for 30th on the NBA All-Time Assists list tonight as well.

If Paul George and Russell Westbrook can continue to do what they’ve been doing for this team as leaders the skies the limit for OKC.

 

[Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman]

Dec 16, 2018 No Comments
Paul George’s 31 Points Help Oklahoma City Defeat The Utah Jazz (122-113)

Paul George’s 31 Points Help Oklahoma City Defeat The Utah Jazz (122-113)

Featured

by | Dec 11, 2018 | Featured, NBA

The Oklahoma City Thunder came into this game following a loss to the Chicago Bulls. There’s nothing like home cooking especially when it’s against the team that eliminated you in the playoffs. The Utah Jazz beat the Thunder in a seven-game series last season and the Thunder fans let it be known they didn’t forget. The Thunder have been clicking on all cylinders and look like the best team in the west. The overall play from the Thunder as a unit was on full display as the Utah Jazz didn’t know what hit them. Steven Adams has been the man that starts out games for the Thunder and he did just that against Rudy Gobert. Steven was able to get him in early foul trouble and was able to take control of the paint with ease. Steven was able to get to the basket whether it was the pick and roll, backing down, or his jump hook. Adams finished the game with 22 points and 7 rebounds on the night. Adams was able to set the tone in that first half while Paul George and Russell Westbrook were still trying to find a rhythm.

Gobert was in some foul trouble the one bright spot for the Jazz all night was Donovan Mitchell. The Thunder were throwing different defensive players at Mitchell trying to make it tougher on the second year guard. Mitchell was able to get his jumper going but it was a little too late. Donovan Mitchell finished the game with 19 points for the Jazz but a lot of his buckets came in the second quarter. The Jazz got down at one point by 29 points and found themselves trying to claw back into the game desperately. The Thunder have found their niche and identity this season on both the defensive/offensive end. Russell Westbrook didn’t have his best night shooting but the man that came to his rescue was Paul George. The man they call PG-13 took over in the 3rd quarter of the game as he scored 17 points in that quarter alone. When a player of his caliber gets it going like that especially in a quarter there isn’t much that can be done. Paul George was hitting 3 pointers and slashing to the basket with ease. The Thunder team as a whole noticed what was going on and kept feeding Paul the ball as he continued to grow the lead against the Jazz. Paul George finished with a game-high 31 points on 8-10 shooting from the field and was able to do whatever he wanted tonight.

 

Russell Westbrook didn’t have the shooting night he wanted but finished with another triple-double (12 PTS,10 AST, 11 REB) on the night. The beauty about this situation is in past seasons if Westbrook didn’t play a great game the Thunder would be in trouble. This time around having someone like Paul George in his corner helped the situation. Westbrook still managed to get his teammates involved and took advantage of the smaller Rubio defending him. No one in the league can stop Westbrook in the point guard position it seems like this season and he continued to show that even on an off night for him. The Thunder had 5 players in double figures and were able to move the ball as they finished the game with 25 assists. The Thunder have committed to the defensive end and also have improved the ball movement so much this season. The players like Jerami Grant, Dennis Schroder, and Nerlens have the experience and can help on the second unit on a nightly basis like they did tonight. When the Thunder play together as a whole they’re tough to beat any night. The Utah Jazz was in foul trouble but just weren’t able to get anything going offensively as they shot 27% from 3 point land. The Thunder defense deserves a lot of credit and will try to continue this against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday.

 

Photo Credit: (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

Dec 11, 2018 No Comments