Thunder strike back to even series
After getting blown out of the barn in Game 1, the Oklahoma City Thunder put the San Antonnio Spurs on notice. The Thunder were able to settle the score in Game 2 on Monday night, beating the Spurs 98-97 to handle them just their second loss at the AT&T Center all year.
Oklahoma City was expected to give San Antonio quite the series, but that looked like it was not going to happen following a 32-point rout in the opener. However, Thunder stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook had other ideas on Monday, combined to score 57 points to take the day.
It was a total team effort for the Thunder, who were able to battle back numerous times. Center Steven Adams had one of the best games of his young career, snagging 17 rebounds and scoring 12 points while fighting off Tim Duncan and LaMarcus Aldridge on the interior. Westbrook led his team with 29 points while notching 10 assists, and Durant poured in 28 points to go with seven board and four helpers.
On the other side, Aldridge had a tremendous outing with a game-high 41 points, continuing his red-hot pace in the NBA Playoffs. The big man shot 15-of-21 from the field and hit on all 10 of his free throw attempts, but it was not enough. Duncan was perhaps the reason for the loss, shooting a hideous 1-of-8 from the floor and scoring only two points in 28 minutes.
The question now for Oklahoma City is whether or not it can sustain this level of play for three more games. The Thunder needed incredible games by men like Serge Ibaka and Adams, while their superstar duo of Westbrook and Durant scored close to 60 points. It stands to reason that the former won’t happen often, even if the latter certainly can.
The other thought is whether Oklahoma City can win all three of its home games. The Thunder have proven they can beat the Spurs on the road, but beating them twice in their own place would be a monumental task considering how dominant they have been there all season.
For Oklahoma City, the time is now. Durant is perhaps leaving at the end of the year with free agency looming in the immediate future. The Thunder know that this could be the end of something that once looked like a dynasty. Perhaps if they win it all, Durant will want to stay with Westbrook and go for another title. If they lose, maybe he feels like this group simply isn’t good enough.
For now, it is about Game 3 for both of these teams. Oklahoma City has to win this one, keeping momentum and home-court advantage while pressing the Spurs into a corner.
It should be one hell of a battle.
