NBA
Regular Season Round 44: Oklah.City T. - Phoenix Suns 112-88
Date: December 14, 2014
When Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant were out with injuries the Oklahoma City Thunder stumbled to a 3-12 start, leaving some wondering if they'd be able to make up enough ground to qualify for the playoffs once their stars returned. That doesn't seem to be an issue any more. Westbrook had 28 points, eight assists and eight rebounds, Durant added 23 points and eight rebounds and the Thunder won their sixth straight game, beating the Phoenix Suns 112-88 on Sunday night. With the win, Oklahoma City moved within a half-game of eighth place in the Western Conference while improving to 11-13. Phoenix (12-13) entered the game tied for eighth in the conference, but is headed in the wrong direction, having lost five straight. Durant isn't concerned with the standings, but there's no doubt that the Thunder are trending upward. "We're just focused on playing good basketball, and everything else after that takes care of itself," Durant said. "We're 24 games in. You're not even close to the halfway point of the season yet, so it's too early to think about that." Westbrook recorded his eighth straight game of at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists since his return from a broken hand. By halftime, he had 24 points, five rebounds and six assists - just missing what would have been his ninth career triple-double as he sat out the fourth quarter. Gerald Green led Phoenix with 15 points. The Suns are known for their up-tempo offence that often turns opponents' misses into points at the other end, but Oklahoma City gave Phoenix few transition opportunities early while seizing control of the game. The Thunder made nine of their first 11 shots and never trailed. "They came out right from the start and got after it," Phoenix coach Jeff Hornacek said. "At one point in the middle of the first quarter they were 11 for 16, so they missed five shots, but on four of those they got offensive rebounds. You can't beat a team when you come out like that. . They took it at us." Oklahoma City's 41-point first quarter was the Thunder's highest-scoring quarter of the season and it matched their season-best for points in a half as they took a 70-48 halftime lead. Phoenix came no closer than 20 points in the second half. There was one scary moment for Westbrook. As he leapt toward the basket midway through the third quarter, Alex Len fouled him hard and Westbrook landed awkwardly on his right leg - which has a surgically repaired right knee. Westbrook got up and hobbled for a few steps before jogging off the floor for a timeout. Anthony Morrow scored 14 points and Serge Ibaka added 12 for Oklahoma City. Eric Bledsoe added 12 points for Phoenix while Tyler Ennis had 11 and Marcus Morris had 10. Courtesy of: newsoptimist.ca
Terms:
Field Goals : 2PM-A (2 point Field Goal made-attempts) 3PM-A (3 point Field Goal made-attempts) FTM-A (free throws made-attempt)
Rebounds : OFF (Offensive) DEF (Defensive) TOT (total)
Fouls : CM (Committed) RV (received)
Blocks : FV (In Favor) AG (Against)
Other terms : MIN (minutes) AST (assists) ST (steals) TO (Turnovers) PTS (points) RNK (ranking)
Regular Season Round 44: Oklah.City T. - Phoenix Suns 112-88
Date: December 14, 2014
When Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant were out with injuries the Oklahoma City Thunder stumbled to a 3-12 start, leaving some wondering if they'd be able to make up enough ground to qualify for the playoffs once their stars returned. That doesn't seem to be an issue any more. Westbrook had 28 points, eight assists and eight rebounds, Durant added 23 points and eight rebounds and the Thunder won their sixth straight game, beating the Phoenix Suns 112-88 on Sunday night. With the win, Oklahoma City moved within a half-game of eighth place in the Western Conference while improving to 11-13. Phoenix (12-13) entered the game tied for eighth in the conference, but is headed in the wrong direction, having lost five straight. Durant isn't concerned with the standings, but there's no doubt that the Thunder are trending upward. "We're just focused on playing good basketball, and everything else after that takes care of itself," Durant said. "We're 24 games in. You're not even close to the halfway point of the season yet, so it's too early to think about that." Westbrook recorded his eighth straight game of at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists since his return from a broken hand. By halftime, he had 24 points, five rebounds and six assists - just missing what would have been his ninth career triple-double as he sat out the fourth quarter. Gerald Green led Phoenix with 15 points. The Suns are known for their up-tempo offence that often turns opponents' misses into points at the other end, but Oklahoma City gave Phoenix few transition opportunities early while seizing control of the game. The Thunder made nine of their first 11 shots and never trailed. "They came out right from the start and got after it," Phoenix coach Jeff Hornacek said. "At one point in the middle of the first quarter they were 11 for 16, so they missed five shots, but on four of those they got offensive rebounds. You can't beat a team when you come out like that. . They took it at us." Oklahoma City's 41-point first quarter was the Thunder's highest-scoring quarter of the season and it matched their season-best for points in a half as they took a 70-48 halftime lead. Phoenix came no closer than 20 points in the second half. There was one scary moment for Westbrook. As he leapt toward the basket midway through the third quarter, Alex Len fouled him hard and Westbrook landed awkwardly on his right leg - which has a surgically repaired right knee. Westbrook got up and hobbled for a few steps before jogging off the floor for a timeout. Anthony Morrow scored 14 points and Serge Ibaka added 12 for Oklahoma City. Eric Bledsoe added 12 points for Phoenix while Tyler Ennis had 11 and Marcus Morris had 10. Courtesy of: newsoptimist.ca
 OKLAH.CITY T. (coach: Mark Daigneault)112 |
| FIELD GOALS | REBOUNDS | FOULS | BLOCKS | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | NAME | MIN | 2PM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OFF | DEF | RB | AS | F | RV | ST | FV | AG | TO | PT | RNK | +/- |
| 8 | bIQQIT, SjUhIjF | 87 | 8-0 (35%) | 8-1 (44.4%) | 3-3 (655%) | 5 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 63 | 63 | 5 |
| 5 | WRsUMQIIV, eussRll | 89 | 1-63 (38.7%) | 6-3 (80%) | 64-64 (655%) | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 82 | 45 | 5 |
| 68 | SdiBs, AURLRj | 80 | 8-8 (655%) | 5-5 (5%) | 8-8 (655%) | 8 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 64 | 5 |
| 40 | guQijU, KRLaj | 83 | 9-66 (14.1%) | 6-8 (05%) | 1-1 (655%) | 5 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 84 | 80 | 5 |
| 0 | ORQVajs, KRjdQaZV | 84 | 8-3 (05%) | 5-5 (5%) | 6-8 (05%) | 8 | 2 | 65 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 66 | 5 |
| 4 | zIjRs ooo, ORQQF | 88 | 4-4 (655%) | 5-8 (5%) | 6-4 (44.4%) | 5 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 5 |
| 60 | ziZVsIj, eRDDaR | 86 | 4-2 (49.0%) | 5-8 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| 7 | oMiVi, ARQDR | 67 | 0-1 (24.4%) | 5-6 (5%) | 8-8 (655%) | 8 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 68 | 66 | 5 |
| 86 | eIMRQsIj, SjdQR | 67 | 5-5 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 6 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 3 | CIllasIj, XaZV | 61 | 4-3 (90%) | 5-6 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 5 |
| ABaUh, oshBiRl | 2 | 6-3 (80%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 6 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 5 | |
| bZGiQF, baUZh | 9 | 6-6 (655%) | 5-5 (5%) | 6-8 (05%) | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 5 | |
| wIUil | 40-18 (01.0%) | 3-62 (88.8%) | 45-43 (22.8%) | 63 | 37 | 14 | 85 | 67 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 62 | 668 | 680 | |||
 PHOENIX SUNS (coach: Jordan Ott)88 |
| FIELD GOALS | REBOUNDS | FOULS | BLOCKS | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | NAME | MIN | 2PM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OFF | DEF | RB | AS | F | RV | ST | FV | AG | TO | PT | RNK | +/- |
| 63 | GQRRj, GRQild | 81 | 8-1 (44.4%) | 4-9 (38.7%) | 8-8 (655%) | 8 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 60 | 7 | 5 |
| 88 | OluBlRR, balRs | 83 | 4-9 (38.7%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 3 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 69 | wuZVRQ, O.z. | 84 | 5-6 (5%) | 6-8 (05%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 5 |
| 8 | mlRdsIR, qQaZ | 88 | 3-65 (35%) | 5-8 (5%) | 3-0 (25%) | 5 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 68 | 1 | 5 |
| WiQQRj, w.z. | 85 | 3-9 (09.6%) | 5-8 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 8 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 5 | |
| 4 | whIBis, osiaih | 85 | 8-1 (44.4%) | 5-4 (5%) | 8-8 (655%) | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| 60 | bIQQas, biQZus | 67 | 4-9 (38.7%) | 6-1 (61.9%) | 6-6 (655%) | 5 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 65 | 1 | 5 |
| 85 | GIIdTaj, SQZhaR | 67 | 6-1 (61.9%) | 6-4 (44.4%) | 5-6 (5%) | 6 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 34 | eijdIlph, AhiLlaV | 62 | 8-2 (80%) | 5-6 (5%) | 8-0 (35%) | 4 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 5 |
| 86 | vRj, SlRx | 62 | 6-8 (05%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 8 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 5 |
| 35 | wIllaLRQ, SjUhIjF | 66 | 5-5 (5%) | 5-4 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | -8 | 5 |
| qjjas, wFlRQ | 65 | 3-0 (25%) | 6-8 (05%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 66 | 64 | 5 | |
| 66 | bIQQas, biQVaRff | 65 | 6-4 (44.4%) | 5-5 (5%) | 8-8 (655%) | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | -8 | 5 |
| wIUil | 89-12 (47.9%) | 9-46 (88.1%) | 64-62 (98.8%) | 63 | 81 | 35 | 86 | 88 | 5 | 66 | 4 | 5 | 65 | 22 | 16 | |||
Terms:
Field Goals : 2PM-A (2 point Field Goal made-attempts) 3PM-A (3 point Field Goal made-attempts) FTM-A (free throws made-attempt)
Rebounds : OFF (Offensive) DEF (Defensive) TOT (total)
Fouls : CM (Committed) RV (received)
Blocks : FV (In Favor) AG (Against)
Other terms : MIN (minutes) AST (assists) ST (steals) TO (Turnovers) PTS (points) RNK (ranking)
