The Thunderous Duo Of Westbrook & George Too Dominant For Portland As Thunder Win (120-111)

The Thunderous Duo Of Westbrook & George Too Dominant For Portland As Thunder Win (120-111)

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by | Feb 12, 2019 | Featured, NBA

The Thunder were coming off of their huge win in Houston. OKC faced the Portland Trailblazers who were on the second night of a back to back. The Thunder took full advantage of that situation as they were able to collectively take Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum out the game on the offensive end for the most part of the game. Oklahoma City was playing without Jerami Grant and Dennis Schröder who were both sidelined against Portland. The way that Paul George has been playing as of late was going to make it tough for any team in front of him. Paul started his night off with a thunderous dunk that set the tone from the opening quarter. Paul George was slicing and dicing the whole Portland team and there was nothing anyone could do about it. The Trail Blazers put multiple defenders on Paul George but he still was able to crossover and get to the basket or get his shot off when he wanted. Paul George has been on an MVP pace and was able to put up 47 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. This was George’s 3rd triple-double in his career and it was special sharing it with Russell Westbrook.

 

 

Tonight Westbrook was able to make history again like he’s done time and time again in the past couple of seasons. Westbrook came into tonight’s game tied with Wilt Chamberlain for most consecutive triple-doubles with nine. Russell Westbrook has been the ultimate teammate and he’s been able to use his overall game to will his team to the victory with George. Russell Westbrook’s the most dominant point guard in the NBA and showed just why tonight in his matchup with Damian Lillard. Westbrook’s ability to get into the paint with ease and he’s been able to get his teammates involved without forcing the situation. The growth in Westbrooks game always gets looked over because of his shooting struggles but no one in the national media talks about his improvements in other areas. Westbrook has been able to get his teammates into the flow of the game and he’s been locking down his position on a nightly basis. Westbrook’s second in steals and has taken the defensive side just as serious as Paul George. No offenses in the NBA want to see both of them because they know how to get into the passing lanes and use the defense to create their offense. Westbrook has matured his game and knows his bread and butter is that paint and that backboard shot with the one leg. Westbrook broke the tie with Wilt Chamberlain tonight as he finished with 21 points, 11 assists, and 14 rebounds.

 

 

The Thunder were able to slow down Lillard and McCollum tonight as they combined for 44 points. Lillard started getting it going later in that second half but with the momentum and the way Russell Westbrook and Paul George were playing they couldn’t stop the leak. The Thunder bench stepped up big time for them as well as Felton and Burton combined for 33 points on the night. The both of them made some big plays and stepped up big time to fill the void that was presented by injuries. The Thunder will be playing the Pelicans next before All-Star break and will look to remain one of the hottest teams in the NBA.

Feb 12, 2019 No Comments
Paul George’s 36 Points Lifts OKC To Victory Past The Milwaukee Bucks (118-112)

Paul George’s 36 Points Lifts OKC To Victory Past The Milwaukee Bucks (118-112)

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by | Jan 28, 2019 | Featured, NBA

The Thunder came into this game against the Milwaukee Bucks on a 4 game winning streak. It seemed as though the Thunder picked right back up from where they left off against the Pelicans. Paul George has been on another level as of late the way he’s been playing. Tonight was no different for Paul George aka PG-13 as he was able to put the Thunder on his back and lead them to the promised land. The Milwaukee Bucks came into this game on a 6 game winning streak and the Thunder weren’t fearing the deer at all. The way that Paul George was able to attack the opposition tonight was simply amazing. Paul George was on another planet tonight and rightfully so wearing his Nike PG3 “NASA” tonight. PG-13 was serving up the Bucks anyway they wanted it tonight whether it was from the 3 point line, mid-range, at the rim it didn’t matter. Paul George is averaging a career-best 27.1 PPG this season and doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon. The Bucks tried to stop him by putting multiple defenders on him and it didn’t go as planned tonight. When Paul George’s playing at this elite level there is nothing anyone can do about it in the league. The best part of Paul George’s game is the fact he plays within the game and lets the offense come to him and it’s not forced.

Another thing about George’s game is that he plays both ways and has proven to be one of the best two-way players in the NBA today. George lets his defense create his offense and still has enough in the tank to get his teammates the ball with his playmaking ability. Paul George was sensational tonight in OKC and was able to get the Thunder through a tough stretch in the game when the Bucks made it close at the end. There was a sequence where Paul George was able to get to the lane and was able to rise up to posterize Giannis Antetokounmpo and then the next possession he hit a huge 3 pointer over Malcolm Brogdon to seal the game. The whole night Paul George was getting showered with MVP chants from the crowd and deserved every single moment that came his way. Paul George finished with 36 points and 13 rebounds on the night. If Paul George wasn’t in the MVP discussion before tonight he’s definitely in the discussion now with this monster performance.

 

The Thunder as a unit was able to put multiple defenders on Giannis Antetokounmpo and made it tough on him all evening. Giannis was able to finish the game with 27 points but wasn’t able to get his first field goal until the second half. The Bucks were able to lean on Khris Middleton as he chipped in with 22 points to help bring things closer at the end. Overall Antetokounmpo was able to get to the rim whenever he wanted too on the night but with Grant/Noel’s length on him, it made things a lot tougher. The Bucks wanted to get Antetokounmpo going in that second half and it started working slowly but the Thunder already had him in foul trouble and were able to work through giving him open shots daring him to shoot them. The gameplan worked perfectly stopping Antetokounmpo and it helped that the Bucks missed a lot of contested shots on the evening as well. Russell Westbrook was able to notch another triple-double on the evening as he finished with 13 points, 11 assists, and 13 rebounds on the night. Westbrook wasn’t able to get things going offensively tonight but it didn’t really matter because the team played so amazing. The Thunder had 6 players in double figures on the night and played as a full team. Westbrook has been able to take the back seat to Paul George and that’s helped the Thunder be able to be in the position they’re in now. Both George and Westbrook have the Thunder looking like title contenders on the season and will take this team on the road as they attempt to come back 3-0 on this quick road trip. The Thunder have been great defensively and have shown that they can use defense to create their offense at any moment.

 

Photo Credit: Zach Beeker

Jan 28, 2019 No Comments
The Thunder Big 3 Combined For 66 Points To Defeat The Pelicans (122-116)

The Thunder Big 3 Combined For 66 Points To Defeat The Pelicans (122-116)

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by | Jan 25, 2019 | Featured, NBA

The Thunder were coming into this game after the battle against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday. Russell Westbrook let it be known in that game that he’s not worried about his percentages as long as the team is winning. Russell Westbrook continued that greatness tonight against the New Orleans Pelicans as he put his team in position to win from the very start. It should be noted that the New Orleans Pelicans were playing without Anthony Davis who’s out with a finger injury. Oklahoma City was able to take advantage of the lack of post defense with Davis out as Steven Adams was in attack mode. It was great to see a battle between Steven Adams and Jahlil Okafor in the paint but Adams was able to get the advantage because his team won. Steven Adams was able to score effectively in the paint on the pick and roll with Westbrook. Both Westbrook and Adams have developed that chemistry over the last few seasons and it was on full display. Steven Adams finished with 20 points and 13 rebounds on the night and was a huge force in the paint distracting what the Pelicans wanted to do on the night. Jahlil Okafor was the bright spot for the Pelicans as he was able to roll to the basket and used his unique footwork to guide him to his 18 points on the night. Another player that stepped up for the Pelicans late was Jrue Holiday he finished the game with 22 points and made it tough for the Thunder at the end of the game. If Holiday got hot early in the game anything could have been possible for the Pelicans.

 

Russell Westbrook has been the ultimate leader and has been a force to be reckoned with on the defensive end. Westbrook has used his defense to open up his offensive game and get his teammates involved more. Westbrook’s leading the NBA in steals and was able to use those steals in the passing lanes to get assists and easy baskets on the night. People won’t talk about how great of a teammate Westbrook really is because they think it’s all about the stats to him but his sacrifice has helped Paul George emerge. Westbrook has been a great teammate and has been able to use other parts of his game to stay engaged in the action on the court. Westbrook notched his 15th triple-double of the season tonight as he finished with 23 points, 16 assists, and 17 rebounds. The triple doubles have been within the game flow and Westbrook starting the fast break after grabbing a rebound is something the opposition doesn’t want to see especially when they’re as fast as Westbrook. In college, Westbrook was known for his defense and he’s reminding everyone in the NBA that he can get it done on both sides of the ball at his position.

Paul George on the night that he was named an NBA All-Star starter for the Western Conference put up 23 points. Paul was able to use his defense to create his offense as well and has shown the NBA that he’s back to PG-13. Paul George has one of the best crossover dribbles with the combination of the step-back jumper and makes it look extremely easy. When George’s in a groove like he’s been lately it feels like anything that he puts up will instantly go in. Some of the clutch moments for George this season and even late in this game show that he needs to be in the MVP discussion and Defensive Player of the Year discussion. Paul George was able to make some timely buckets and was able to slow down Hill and Holiday in that second half. A lot of people in the NBA will give respect to Paul George for being one of the best two-way players and tonight he was able to show that when he’s in a zone he can take over a game just like Westbrook. The Thunder Big 3 of Westbrook, George, and Adams are special when they play like this and all 3 of them should be in high consideration for the NBA All-Star Game in Charlotte in February.

 

The Thunder play against the Milwaukee Bucks next on Sunday as they try to make it 5 wins in a row against the best team in the Eastern Conference.

Jan 25, 2019 No Comments
Dennis Schröder Lifts OKC In Bounce Back Win Tonight Against San Antonio (122-112)

Dennis Schröder Lifts OKC In Bounce Back Win Tonight Against San Antonio (122-112)

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by | Jan 13, 2019 | Featured, NBA

Both teams came into this game knowing each other pretty well after their double-overtime thriller on Thursday. The Thunder didn’t like taking that loss on Thursday and came out very aggressive trying to get revenge. Russell Westbrook came out strong in this game and was leading the charge getting his teammates involved. Westbrook was in some foul trouble but was able to feed the rock to teammates and play his game without being taken out of the game. The best thing about Russell Westbrook’s game is the fact you know that you’re going to get 110% every time out and his teammates know that as well. The Thunder were able to feed off Westbrook’s energy on both ends and came out with fire in their eyes tonight. Russell Westbrook finished with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists on the night.

 

 

Tonight LaMarcus Aldridge didn’t get the same looks he got in San Antonio the Thunder double-teamed him and made sure that whoever defended him had help. LaMarcus Aldridge was held to 17 points on the evening and had a lot more difficulty scoring than Thursday. The Thunder had a gameplan and were able to manage and limit the looks that Aldridge got tonight as a unit. The person that kept the Spurs in the game for a little bit of the game was Marco Belinelli as he went for 24 points off the bench and has become the most lethal shooter on the Spurs team. It feels like anything that Marco puts up against the Thunder will go in and that’s pretty much how it was on Thursday as well. The Spurs had Marco going off to help them and the Thunder had Dennis Schröder who went complete takeover mode in the second half of the game. Dennis came out of halftime with some fire in his eyes and he took the game over by penetrating and being aggressive. Anything that Schröder did in the second half was magical whether it was his floater, 3 point shot, or his ability to find his open players he did it all. The Spurs weren’t able to do anything to stop Dennis as he was quickly getting out of his slump. The Thunder had seven players in double figures tonight as it was a complete team effort tonight.

The Thunder will have the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday in ATL as they want to continue to stay in the wins column.

 

Photo Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

Jan 13, 2019 No Comments
OKC Thunder Lose A Tough Game At Home To The Minnesota Timberwolves (119-117)

OKC Thunder Lose A Tough Game At Home To The Minnesota Timberwolves (119-117)

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by | Jan 9, 2019 | Featured, NBA

The Thunder were coming into this game trying to bounce back from their loss the Wizards on Sunday. In that game, the Thunder had issues rebounding the ball on the defensive end and it occurred again tonight. The Timberwolves outrebounded the Thunder on the offensive end 5 times in the last couple of possessions. That would play a huge factor into the Thunder losing the game because of the second chance points. This was one of those games that Andrew Wiggins just couldn’t miss anything it seemed like on the evening. The Thunder had Ferguson, George, and Grant on Wiggins throughout the night and he still finished with a season-high 40 points. Wiggins was making some tough shots in the game and he was that driving force for the Timberwolves while Karl Anthony Towns was in foul trouble.

Both of the big men on both teams were in foul trouble but made their presence known in key moments. The Timberwolves had five players in double figures and were able to continue to push the pace in the game. It seemed as though OKC was chasing the Timberwolves all game and just needed that break to get back in the game. That moment came in the 3rd quarter as the Thunder came out on fire and couldn’t miss anything. Russell Westbrook came out attacking the basket and looked like a totally different player than the first half. In the first half Westbrook was looking to get his teammates involved more and in the second half, it was all about number zero getting into the flow of the game. Westbrook is one of those dynamic players that can change the course of a game at any moment and he did that.

Russell Westbrook was getting the team back within five points and that’s when the game got extremely scary and came to a complete stop. Andrew Wiggins was having his best game of the season as he attacked the rim and went for the monster dunk he was met by Nerlens Noel. When Wiggins went up for the dunk his elbow hit Noel in the face knocking him out in mid-air and then his head disturbingly hit the court twice as it bounced. Noel was trying to brace his fall but wasn’t able to do it and was knocked unconscious. The Thunder medical staff rushed to Nerlens and immediately called for a stretcher to get Noel to a hospital. The whole arena was silent and both teams were praying for Nerlens as this was going on. It was a scary sight to watch and the crazy part was the fact they still had 6:30 mins left in the 3rd quarter to play. The fans were instantly mad at Andrew Wiggins from that point on and booed him every time he touched the basketball. Even after the scary incident the referees still called the foul on Nerlens Noel which the OKC fans didn’t like at all and let it be known.

 

 

After Nerlens was sent to the nearby hospital the Thunder still had a game to play. The tempers were definitely in the air as Jeff Teague and Dennis Schroder got into it on an inbounds play. Jeff Teague shoved Dennis with an elbow and both proceeded to square up as if they were going to fight. Jeff Teague got ejected and the Thunder dodged a bullet as Schroder was able to stay in the game. The Thunder crowd got into the game, even more, heading into the 4th quarter. The one player that was consistent all game long was Andrew Wiggins he made the Thunder pay on multiple possessions down the stretch whether it was the right pass or the made shot. The Thunder had a couple of last-second chances as Russell Westbrook hit a big 3 pointer to give OKC the lead with little time remaining. The Timberwolves answered and it was Wiggins who delivered the game-winning assist to Josh Okogie for the 3 pointer that sealed the deal for Minnesota. The Timberwolves were able to get their head coach’s first win and it was a huge win in OKC as both teams will meet again two more times in Minnesota.

 

Photo Credit: StarTribune

Jan 9, 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)

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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