By Michael Doutey
The Oklahoma City Thunder took down the Golden State Warriors 125-105 inside Oracle Arena on Tuesday night. The Thunder took the fight to Golden State and lead from start to finish in another dominating win over the NBA’s best team. This was the Thunder’s most impressive win of the season because the Thunder were without Andre Roberson, Carmelo Anthony played just six minutes due to an sprained ankle, and Steven Adams missed the majority of the first half due to foul trouble, and the Thunder did not miss a beat. The Thunder did a great job on defense, using their length to discombobulate the Warriors offense. The Thunder were able to use the high pick-and-roll on offense to break down the Warriors defense. With this win, OKC moves to 5-0 versus Golden State, Houston, Toronto and Cleveland, who are considered the NBA’s elite, though if you want to question the Cavs as an elite team right now, that’s fine with me. Even still, the Thunder show up best when the lights are the brightest and tonight was another example of just how good this team can be when they are dialed in. Here are my five observations from a surprising Thunder blowout win.
1. Russ Set the Tone
Westbrook attacked the Warriors defense in the first quarter with incredible ferocity, which set the tone for the game. The Thunder never let up off the gas and Russ was the one who got it started. He was unconscious in the opening frame, scoring 21 of his 34 points in the first, shooting an incredible 9-11 from the field including two three’s. Russ ran the high pick-and-roll with Adams until he had to sit with foul issues. Then Jerami Grant came in and was really effective as well in that roll as well. The Warriors had no answer for Westbrook, especially in the early stages of the game. Russ made the Warriors pay and his intensity spread to the entire team. Russ finished the game with nine assists and nine rebounds.
That was vicious #RussellWestbrook! #PhantomCam#ThunderUp
: @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/F5PebM0nCj
— NBA (@NBA) February 7, 2018
2. Paul George Was Peake Paul George
PG was incredible. He was sensational. He was the best player on the floor last night. He was great on offense, but he was even better on defense. He quite literally guarded every player on the Warriors at one time or another and caused all sorts of problems. His on ball defense was really good, but he was excellent getting his hands in the passing lanes as he grabbed six steals in the game. While Russ exploded in the first quarter, PG carried the Thunder in the scoring department the rest of the game. PG scored a game high 38 points on 11-23 shooting, including 6-11 from three and 10-12 from the free throw line. PG was as good as it gets last night and it was thrilling to watch.
Paul George. pic.twitter.com/UiUOBrawTp
— Up The Thunder (@UpTheThunder) February 7, 2018
Paul George had enough of Zaza put your hands up to defend yourself like your taught it dont matter pic.twitter.com/nZOnOI6MQY
— Kristaps Wobzingis (@World_Wide_Wob) February 7, 2018
3. Role Players Played Big
Josh Huestis made the start last night as OKC’s quest to find Andre Roberson’s replacement continues. Huestis’ defense was really good and heck, Josh even dove the ball comfortably into the paint and was able to score multiple times. He wasn’t settling for three’s and he was playing the best he has ever played in his NBA career. As Carmelo Anthony went down with an ankle sprain, Patrick Patterson got his biggest workload of the season, playing 30 minutes and was a plus-12 while on the floor. Patterson’s defense was really good on Draymond Green and his rotations, just like everyone else’s, was on point. He was locked in, even if his shot wasn’t falling. Then, Steven Adams missed lots of time in the first half with foul trouble, so Jerami Grant stepped in at center and played some of the best ball he’s played all season. Grant scored 16 points in 35 minutes of action, while shooting 5-8 from the field, 5-8 from the free throw line and he even connected on a three. His defense was really good was well. He played the center position, the four and even the wing at times. His length and versatility was huge. Then Alex Abrines was huge off the bench as well. He scored nine points on 3-7 from three, but it was his defense that really stood out. He was active, drew some fouls and did a respectable job on defense. The contributors stepped up in a bigtime way.
4. Thunder’s Team Defense
The Thunder came out with some of the best energy I’ve seen all season on defense. The Thunder were dialed in on that end from the get go. Every rotation was made perfectly. The team was completely synced up and it really showed. The Warriors really never got anything going on offense. Well, outside of KD, who had a fabulous games. But the Thunder forced 25 turnovers from Golden State, which is about 10 more than Golden State commits per game. OKC scored 38 points off Golden State’s turnovers. The Thunder were ballhawks, getting their hands in the passing lanes, communicating well, rotating in perfect synchronization, and when the Warriors would force OKC into scramble mode, the Thunder made all the perfect plays. It was a great game on defense from OKC who had really been struggling on that end the past couple weeks.
5. Steven Adams Was Big in the 2nd Half
After missing lots of time in the first half due to foul trouble, Adams was big in the second half. The Thunder used him for post ups in the second half and he cashed in. Adams scored 14 points on 7-9 shooting and grabbed 10 boards. Adams was so good on defense, then ran the pick-and-roll effectively and was a mismatch nightmare for Golden State. Zaza Pachulia, Davis West, Kevon Looney and JaVale McGee all looked like children next to Adams. He had a huge second half and was big in the win.
The Thunder snapped their four game losing streak in a bigtime win and will stay out west with a revenge game with the Lakers Thursday night. Tip is set for 9:30 inside Staples Center.
