WASHINGTON, D.C. – It didn’t take long, but when the Thunder run came midway through the first quarter, it packed a mean punch.
Head Coach Billy Donovan’s club used a 10-2 first quarter run to power past the Washington Wizards, ignited by a Kevin Durant pull-up three-pointer in transition. The Thunder took a 14-point lead heading into the second quarter, and despite a brief push by Washington to cut the lead to seven early in the period, the Thunder once again pushed the lead out to an insurmountable level by the time the game reached halftime. In the end, it was a 125-101 runaway victory for the Thunder, who now returns home for a Friday night tilt against the Philadelphia 76ers.
After putting up an efficient 14 points, ten rebounds and four assists in 17 first half minutes, Durant left the game with a strained left hamstring. For the purposes of the rest of the game, however, Durant’s teammates had it well in hand. Russell Westbrook registered his first triple-double of the season with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, while Serge Ibaka scored a season-high 23 points on 9-for-15 shooting.
Off the bench, the Thunder’s two main offensive weapons Dion Waiters and Enes Kanter were effective once again. Coming into the game averaging 21.5 points per game combined, the duo topped that mark and then some, as Waiters hit 7-of-10 shots on his way to an efficient, and game-high, 25 points while Kanter scored nine points and added six rebounds.
From a team perspective, the Thunder dominated this one in nearly every category, thanks to the resounding showing in the first half. That energy carried over throughout the night as the Thunder had a chance to put the game on cruise control in the fourth quarter.
Donovan’s group out-rebounded Washington 53-41, while registering 27 assists on 44 made field goals. A clamp-down effort on defense was also a major factor, as the Wizards shot just 39.2 percent from the field and 5-for-24 from the three-point line.- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Hot From Behind the Arc
Coming into the season, one of the core areas of focus for the Thunder was the three-point line, on both ends of the floor. Defending pick-and-rolls in such a way to prevent easy catch-and-shoot looks for opponents is a priority. Similarly, creating open looks from behind the arc on the offensive end.
By keeping proper spacing and using on-time, on-target passes to generate open looks, the Thunder started the game 8-for-8 form behind the three-point line, eventually knocking down 15-of-23 shots from deep for the night. Six different players hit three-pointers, including four from Waiters and three apiece from Durant and Ibaka. Donovan’s club passed their teammates into open looks, making those catch and shoot opportunities into very high percentage looks.- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
By the Numbers
11 – Number of assists and number of rebounds for Russell Westbrook, who put together his first triple-double of the season
23 – Points for Serge Ibaka, a season-high, on 9-for-15 shooting from the field, including a 3-for-3 mark from the three-point line, in addition to six rebounds and three assists
39.2 – Shooting percentage for the Wizards, thanks to a Thunder defensive effort that held Washington to 5-for-24 shooting from three-point range
