The Thunder came into this game against the Denver Nuggets following a loss to the New York Knicks. What a lot of people aren’t talking about is that OKC has won 6 of the last 9 games coming into this contest. This team has been better defensively and they also have been able to grind out wins and thats all that matters. The Nuggets were playing without Kenneth Faried, Emmanuel Mudiay, Paul Milsap who are huge pieces to their puzzle as a team. OKC was without Steven Adams for the 2nd game in a row and Dakari Johnson came right in and filled a very important role early in the game. The Thunder made it a priority to get into the paint and they finished with 48 points and basically got to the basket any time they wanted too. Paul George and Carmelo Anthony weren’t able to get their shots to fall tonight as both combined for (5-19) on the night for 12 points. Both were in and out of the game all night because of game flow. It’s extrememly tough to get in the rythm of the game especially when you have someone like Russell Westbrook playing the way he’s been playing for them lately. Paul George and Caremlo Anthony are used to getting a high volume of shots and that hasn’t been the case in OKC as of late but they’re winning games and thats what is important.
Just by watching the Thunder play you can tell it’s going to take some time to adjust because you have to go off the hot hand. Tonight Russell Westbrook had the hot hand and had 38 points on the night and was able to put the Thunder on his back. Russell Westbrook has improved his mid-range jumper and also was playing very aggressive like MVP Russ played last season. The Nuggets didn’t know how to stop or control Russell Westbrook as soon as he got his game going in that second half. The Oklahoma City Thunder only had two players in double figures tonight Russell Westbrook and Alex Abrines which can’t happen when OKC plays against some of the biggest competitors in the league. Tonight was a prime example that OKC has to move the ball a lot more because 13 assists on the night won’t cut it on most nights. When the ball is moving you can get the best shot and OKC showed some glimpes of that tonight against the Nuggets but needed to show more. The Thunder were down by 10 points and it was Russell Westbrook takeover time in Chesapeake Energy Arena as he willed them to the victory attacking until he either got fouled or made the shot.
The young Denver Nuggets showed some signs of growth in this game as they stayed close all night with OKC and even had the lead majority of the night. The Nuggets had 5 players in double figures and they looked like a team that is used to playing with each other especially with the way the ball movement was tonight. Garry Harris was able to keep the Nuggets in the game as he had 17 points to lead the way and had a scary moment in the game where he tried to drive and landed on his head. The impact was heard around the arena as everyone was silent until he got up and continued to play. This showed a lot of toughness and it also showed that the Nuggets weren’t going to backdown tonight against OKC. The Nuggets had a lot of wide open jumpers that they missed and they didn’t execute when it was needed for them to get the victory. The Thunder played lock down defense the last 45 seconds of the game and they were able to force Denver into tough decisions.
The Thunder play Utah on Wednesday and will be looking to continue their winning ways now that they have won 7 of the last 10 games.
Photo: (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
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