Every quarter told a different tale in Wednesday night’s clash between the Thunder and the Toronto Raptors. Unfortunately for Head Coach Billy Donovan’s club, the fourth quarter’s story didn’t go their way, and the Thunder fell 103-98.
It was a topsy-turvy battle all night, with the Thunder landing the first blows in the first quarter, only to be thwarted in the second quarter by Toronto. Exploding in the third period for 42 points, the Thunder entered the fourth quarter trending the right direction.
With 2:18 remaining, the Thunder led 97-91 after two Serge Ibaka free throws. The Raptors’ Jonas Valanciunas knocked down two of the Raptors’ 32 made free throws, then after a missed Dion Waiters three-pointer, Toronto’s Kyle Lowry drove the lane for a layup.
On the next two Thunder possessions, Russell Westbrook got a look at a layup in traffic on the next possession and Kevin Durant had a clear view of a 14-foot turnaround jumper, but both rimmed out. In the meantime, Toronto got two more free throws and a DeMar DeRozan driving layup to take a 99-97 lead.
“We just missed shots,” Durant said. “We were getting downhill and getting to the paint. Dion missed a nice wide open three, I missed a turnaround on the baseline, Russell missed a few layups getting to the rim. If we make those shots, it’s great offense. It’s a make or miss league and we missed them and they made them.”
Westbrook again got all the way to the rim but couldn’t quite convert, and the Raptors converted on their final four free throw attempts, bringing their total to 39 foul shots for the night.
“We’re playing too recklessly,” Durant said. “We can’t try to get a steal every time. We can’t be super physical to the point where we’re fouling for no reason. That’s on everybody… We made them shoot tough shots, but we bailed them out a lot.”
The Thunder got off to a nice start before the Raptors’ 12-1 run to close the game. By racking up assists on 10 of its 11 made field goals in the first quarter, the Thunder made its way to 26 assists as a team for the game. A second quarter lull that included nine turnovers, part of 19 total on the night, changed the tune of the game and the Raptors carried momentum into halftime.
“The free throw line in the second half and the turnovers in the first half kept the game really close all the way through,” Donovan explained.
“We started off well, we just didn’t finish four quarters of it,” Westbrook said.
Out of the break, however, Westbrook took control, scoring 16 of his 22 points during the period. The playmaker also generated baskets for his teammates throughout the night, racking up 16 assists, which is the most by any player in the NBA so far this season.- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Block Party
By the Numbers
19-6 – The Thunder’s edge in fast break points on the night, where it shot 7-for-9 from the field and held Toronto to just three attempts
27 – Points for Kevin Durant on 10-for-18 shooting to go with seven rebounds, four assists, two steals and three blocks- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
The Last Word
“It’s something we’ll learn from. It’s still early in the season. We’re still very optimistic. We have another game tomorrow. We have to put the hard hat on and get ready to work again tomorrow.” – guard Anthony Morrow
