BOX SCORES

vs New Orleans Pelicans (W 101-92):

9 MINS | 7 PTS (3/3 FG, 1/1 FT) | 3 REB (3 D) | 1 STL

at Atlanta Falcons (W 102-99):

28 MINS | 12 PTS (5/10 FG, 2/5 FT) | 10 REB (6 O, 4 D) | 1 STL | 2 TO | 4 PF

NEXT WEEK

vs Houston Rockets, Saturday 2pm (NZT)

vs Boston Celtics, Monday 1pm (NZT)

at Portland Trail Blazers, Wednesday 4.30pm (NZT)

at Utah Jazz, Thursday 3pm (NZT)

vs New Orleans Pelicans (W 101-92)

Entering this week it was all Westbrook trip-dubs and a nice four game streak of victories, yeah boy. With a crammed full week of games last time, they got things a bit more breezy this time with a few days off and plenty less travel. Numero uno, Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans.

Here’s an indication of what they think of Stevie’s defence, they chucked him straight on Anthony Davis! AD does a bit of everything, he’s one of the premier players in the world, but while he was still able to make some tough shots over Steve, at the other end it meant that Adams was also getting a bit of joy in his post game.

That’s a handy way to start a game, Adams had 7 points in the first quarter as the Thunder took a 29-26 lead on the back of a massive 24 points in the paint – Enes Kanter also getting stuff done and Westbrook with 5 early assists – while Davis bagged 13 points. But Adams also left the court with a hobble and would head to the locker room for checks as the second quarter began without him in sight. Worried about the ankle, he wouldn’t return to the match.

So… that’s that for Steve. Without him, Russ did his usual thing with 28 points, 17 rebounds and 12 assists for his fifth consecutive triple-double – something nobody has done since Michael Jordan in 1989. Well, okay then, son.

Russ: “I just like to win, brother.”

What a line.

Anthony Davis scored 37 with 15 rebounds but the Pelicans don’t go so well outside of him. OKC missed all 15 of their triples in the first half but nursed a lead that wavered around ten points for most of it. The Thunder his six threes in the second half, Oladipo added 15, Kanter added 17. Thunder won by nine points and that made it five in a row, the wins mirroring the Westbrook TDs.

But there’s a more pressing issue here…

NewsOK: “Thunder center Steven Adams left Sunday's game against New Orleans with a left ankle sprain, according to the Thunder. Adams did not return. Adams had seven points and three rebounds in the first quarter when he was subbed out for Enes Kanter with 3:16 left in the period. Adams briefly went to the Thunder bench before going to the locker room. Adams sprained his right ankle in the Thunder's preseason opener against Real Madrid, which forced him to miss three preseason games.”

Daily Thunder: “Steven Adams left the game in the second quarter with a sprained ankle.  He landed awkwardly in the first quarter, but stayed in the game at first.  This caused a problem for the Thunder because Adams was the main defender they wanted on Davis.  Adams or no Adams, Davis was going to get his (37 points and 15 rebounds) because he is just really good at basketball, but losing the Big Kiwi definitely was a significant blow to the Thunder D.  The trio of Sabonis, Lauvergne and Grant weren’t much of a match for the Pelican all-star.”

Also curious:

at Atlanta Falcons (W 102-99)

Guess what Russell Westbrook did in Atlanta? Strip clubs? Couldn’t tell ya. But he did get another triple double to lead the Thunder to victory. The dude’s so predictable.

Less predictable was this…

Wouldn’t ya know it, the dude went and started despite playing only nine minutes the day before. The man is made of steel and pounamu or something. He’d take full part in the game and the Thunder would remain the only team to have named the same starting five in every game this season.  

Dutifully, Steve was involved from the start, winning the jump ball, missing a four footer, getting his own rebound and then turning it over. We’re not all Russell Westbrook, and even he misses plenty more than he makes. Adams got his next one to drop from 11 feet, showing a little range with that right hand lob-shot of his.

Up against Dwight Howard, that duel was a good one for Adams although fouls meant he only lasted half the first quarter before Enes Kanter was in to eat some time. Mike Muscala drew a few fouls for FTs and the Hawks took a small lead but Kanter popped a triple and Jerami Grant put an exclamation mark on it with a second left in the first to give OKC the 23-21 lead.

Points were easier to come by for both teams in the second quarter. Shots went down and scores pushed out with both teams topping 30+ for the frame. Steven Adams checked back in midway through and really took a hold of proceedings with a busy spell of action. Between free throws, dunks through contact, layups and whatever else he scored ten in the second, all of his points coming in the first half. OKC got as many as ten points up but Paul Millsap reeled that back to a 55-54 HT scoreline.

Ol’ Westbrook was 1/9 at this stage. Chap was clunking everything… except that never seems to last too long for him. There’s always a switch to flick and he found that in the third quarter. Three threes and 5/7 shooting got him 16 points in the 3Q and the Thunder were well on top, Russ outscored them 16-15 in the quarter all on his lonesome. He’d complete the TD in the third and he’d add another 11 in the final stanza to hold off the Hawks as they rallied back – it was ATL’s seventh loss in a row and tenth from 11.

Weird second half for Steve, who played a lot of mins, around 17 of them, yet didn’t score a point, missing a couple of shots but that was. However he did bag a handful of rebounds to get him that double-double just for the sake of it. Also don’t sleep on those screens that he sets for Russ. When Russ takes over, he doesn’t entirely do it alone despite what it looks and feels like. Also, this probably didn’t help the day after an ankle injury:

Daily Thunder: “Steven Adams played tonight despite spraining his left ankle yesterday. He had 12 points and 6 rebounds in the first half. He went down again tonight with what looked like another ankle sprain, but, of course, got back in the game. Get this man a contract in the WWE.”

Royce Young/ESPN: “Westbrook continues to downplay the run, deflecting every question about it with a response that he's either "blessed" or just likes winning. As of now, it's building an energy without being an actual distraction, and Westbrook's teammates have fully embraced it and are feeding off it. Steven Adams, who is highly regarded by the organization for his selfless nature, made sure to pull his hands back on a rebound in the third quarter to let Westbrook grab it. Some might see it as a stat conspiracy, but the triple-doubles are legit, and Westbrook's teammates are all-in on them.”

NewsOK: “Are the Thunder’s bigs sacrificing rebound opportunities for Russell Westbrook? Maybe, but they don’t care, at least according to Steven Adams. “Not in front of you guys,” Adams joked Wednesday after Thunder practice.”

ODDS & ENDS