Thunder/Mavs Recap

What we thought we were going to get was a Thunder blowout of a team that when last they met, they swept out of the playoffs 4-0.  What we got was an overtime thriller of a game that saw the Thunder trail most of the way.  But in the end, the better team won and the Thunder took a 111-105 victory at home from the Dallas Mavericks.  Due to work considerations, I missed most of the first half - but considering the Thunder played "turrible" during that time, I actually consider myself lucky.


The halftime show was mostly an indictment of Russell Westbrook (yet again) but as poorly as he's shot lately (he was 7-20 last night, to follow up a 5-19 game on Christmas Day) he never stops playing, never gives up.  And this would end up helping the Thunder later on in the game.  But...no spoilers just yet.  After the hard fought loss to the Heat on Tuesday, a "hangover" game might have been expected.  But honestly, these are your fathers Dallas Mavericks.  With a load of 1 year contract players, and an only recently returned from the IL Dirk, this team is several games under .500 for a reason.  The only bright spot was a rejuvinated O.J. Mayo, who has also been tearing it up for my brother's fantasy basketball team.  But knowing this, the Thunder made it a priority to shut him down...and shut him down Thabo did.  The Juice ended up with 4 points on 1-7 shooting, and with a chance to tie the game with 3 FT attempts near the end of the game, he bricked the first 2.  Not exactly the kind of game O.J. will be looking to remember.

 KD...what can you say?  This guy is on a tear this season that is only overshadowed by LeBron himself, which is saying something.  The Durantula put 40 on the Mavs, and torched them in pretty much every way imaginable.  Of note is his defense, with 3 blocks (one of which he pinned against the backboard, took the rebound, and then went coast to coast and viciously dunked on Chris Kaman - check it out below)

As noted in the comments of the video itself, hard to stop a 6'10" guy who can do something like that.  With the Thunder playing sloppy basketball, and allowing Darren Collison to put up a new season high in points (32) its incredible that the Thunder even had a chance to win this one.  But surely they did...and were even up 3 points at the end of regulation.  Then Collison (having a great night) heaves a prayer 1 handed 3 pointer at the buzzer which somehow drops in.  Intense shot I must say, even as a Thunder homer.  But then it was Russell's chance to atone for his awful night to that point.

Scoring 8 points in overtime, and with a key steal and layup near the end of the game, Russ put his stamp on the finish of this contest.  He may take stuff off the table, but he sure does bring a lot to it as well.  He ended his night with 16 and 10 dimes, 3 thefts, a block, and (most important) only 2 TOs.  Serge killed it with 19-17 and 5 blocks, and showed why his developing game is so critical to the Thunder's success this season.  Even KMart looked good, and had 7 boards to go along with 18 points.  A great team effort to help them get back into this one.

The Thunder probably shouldn't have won this game...and yet they did.  Good teams might lose games like this...great teams find a way to win them.  As always, we are watching the #ThunderNationRISE