This was the first game of the second half of the season and the Thunder were ready for the challenge. The Jazz came into town to face the red hot Thunder and their MVP caliber players in Westbrook & George. Both teams have some hatred towards each other especially after the playoffs and OKC wanted to show this was a new year and a different team. The Thunder and Jazz were both going back in forth in this game but it was the big names that showed up tonight. The one bright spot for the Jazz tonight was Donovan Mitchell he went off for 38 points against the Thunder. Mitchell was a tough guard for anyone that OKC put on him and he was making some amazing shots on the night. Mitchell reminds everyone of a young D-Wade the way that he can create his own shot and get to the paint with ease. The Thunder controlled the rest of Mitchell’s team in the game and forced someone else to beat them if it was going to happen.
Utah didn’t get the job done overall even with six players in double figures they fell to OKC. No one on the Jazz was able to contain Russell Westbrook or Paul George as they both combined for 88 points out of the 148 from the Thunder on the night. Paul George started off slow but was able to get into his groove in a hurry in that second half. George finished with 45 points on the night and hit the game winner over Rudy Gobert that amazed everyone in attendance and watching around the world. The NBA is witnessing something special with this run that Paul George has been on and people are starting to jump on the MVPG train. One of the people that support that train is his running mate Russell Westbrook who posted up 43 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists to end his triple-double streak. We witness history all the time with Westbrook and he’s been even more historic with his leadership that he’s put on display. Russell Westbrook fouled out this game in OT but was able to have his fingerprints all over the game and that led to his teammates wanting to play for him even more. Both George and Westbrook have shown that defense can turn into the offense and they can actually make each other better. This is what was to be expected and with the leadership from both of them, it’s rubbed off on players like Schröder and Nader who had some big plays down the stretch.
The Thunder will be facing off against the Kings tomorrow and will look to keep this same energy and progression going to continue to climb that Western Conference ladder.
Photo Credit: Alonzo Adams, USA TODAY Sports via Reuters
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