This is the Hangover. We get basketball-wasted all the time. Yes, we recap the NBA every night in our own way.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images.)
#2 SAN ANTONIO SPURS 99 @ #3 OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER 113
WEST Semifinals – Game 6 – THUNDER WIN series, 4-2
The final score doesn’t explain how dominant the Thunder were in this clincher.
The Spurs frontline scored all their points in the first quarter. Tim Duncan, who looked old for a lot of this series, showed that he still had some in the tank. But the Thunder scored the last 12 points of the first period.
It was pretty much all OKC from there. They got significant contributions from Steven Adams and Andre Roberson (14 points). The Thunder ended the half with a 20-4 run and a 24-point halftime lead. The lead would go as high as 28.
San Antonio did have one last gasp in the fourth as this ageless bunch closed the gap to 11 points. But the rejuvenation of Duncan (19 points) would stop here. Serge Ibaka snuffed Duncan’s jam attempt when the Spurs had a chance to cut it to single digits; it felt like one of those times where his body just seemed to fail him. Russell Westbrook would score five straight points a bit later to stop the comeback for good and the Thunder are going to their fourth Western Conference final in six seasons.
I said in my preview that it all came down to defensive discipline and poise. The Thunder’s defense had been inconsistent all season but they brought out their best against the Spurs. OKC’s bigs overwhelmed the Spurs and San Antonio’s guard play was not the greatest. Maybe a few jumpers made here and there (or if the referees weren’t as much of a factor as they have been in this series) and we would be talking about Kevin Durant (who played a monster game) exiting Oklahoma.
Instead, it might be both Duncan and Manu Ginobili leaving. And it’s already bad enough for the Spurs that they had an early vacation.
But now we have a potential epic Western Conference Finals waiting in Oklahoma City Thunder against the reigning, defending champions Golden State Warriors.
BEHIND THE LINES
Kevin Durant (OKC): 37 pts, 9 rebs.
Russell Westbrook (OKC): 28 pts, 12 rebs.
Steven Adams (OKC): 15 pts, 11 rebs.
LaMarcus Aldridge (SA): 18 pts, 14 rebs.
Kawhi Leonard (SA): 22 pts, 9 rebs, 5 assts, 3 stls.
WATCH THIS PLAY
The aforementioned Serge Ibaka swat on Duncan. It is so disrespectful to do that to an elderly gentleman.
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA.)
Follow Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass for all tweets about the NBA and terrible pop music. Also, check out his podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental.
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