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Quarter by Quarter observations
First Quarter
The Thunder are starting out the game flat and lazy. They just don't have much energy right now. The Thunder didn't score until nearly 3 minutes were gone from the first quarter and were down by 6 4 minutes in. The Thunder built up a lead and then let it slip away as the Wizards got on a roll and cut the lead back to 3. KD started 5-7 for 14 points and has looked good early on both on offense and defense. The Thunder are doing a good job of taking care of the basketball early in the game which is good to see after the lacksidaisical way they played the first quarter in New Jersey. Westbrook is 1-5 from the field but he already has 5 assists and 4 rebounds. One of the good things to see in this game is 0 fouls in the first quarter. The Thunder has not committed a foul yet.
Score to end the Quarter 30-25 Thunder
Second Quarter
Kevin Durant is shooting 5-7 headed into the second quarter, yet he doesn't take a shot until the Wizards take the lead late in the second quarter. KD finished the quarter on a 3-3 tear to bring the Thunder back to within 2. After playing foul free the first quarter apparently the refs decided to even the numbers in the second quarter. I don't like to complain about the refs but there were a lot of fouls called the second quarter that were not called both ways. The Wizards did do much better on defense in the second quarter but they got a lot of help. Harden is looking like it's going to be another selfish night without a lot of playmaking.
Score to finish the half 55-53 Wizards
Half
The Thunder played one and a half quarters of basketball that half. The Wizards rose to the challenge after the Thunder got out to an early lead, now it is up to the Thunder to squash them back down. Haywood is having another great night down low he is 4-6 right now and it is looking like he is going to dominate down low. Westbrook had 5 assists and was making great passes in the first quarter, in the second he tried to force it into places and made poor passes. The Thunder in general played a lot sloppier in the second quarter and turned the ball over 5 times, combined with the fouls and a 5 rebound disadvantage the Wizards were able to go on a 13-3 run to take the lead and hold it through the half. The Thunder need to come out in the second half and get the ball to KD and let him make some shots to get the Thunder back in rhythm. The Thunder let the Wizards get back into the game the first time they played in OKC but here at home the Wizards will probably be less inclined to quit if they get down.
Third Quarter
The Thunder are struggling to find a second scoring option besides Durant. Sefolosha contributed a basket, Krstic went 3-5, Green 2-4. The Thunder also evened up the rebounding battle at 32 all. After 10 fouls in the second quarter the Thunder were only called for one foul in the third. Westbrook is only 1 assist away from 10 assists. Harden is 1-5 from the field which isn't helping right now. The Thunder are letting the Wizards hang around which can be dangerous. The Thunder will need to step up the defense in the fourth and put some points on the board if they want to get the win. Driving the ball to the hoop will probably help the Thunder put some points up and put the Wizards away.
Score to finish the Quarter 76-76 Tied
Fourth Quarter
The Wizards kept it close until about 6 minutes left in the quarter, then the Thunder got serious about playing defense, put together a couple of stops, and made a couple of shots to extend the lead to 11. The good thing about this win is the Thunder proved again that they can put away the bad teams. The bad thing it took them until the fourth quarter to finally put them away. Keep playing with fire and eventually you will get burned. It didn't happen against the Nets and it didn't happen against the Wizards but eventually keep doing it and someone will step up and pull out a win.
Score to finish the Game 110-98 Thunder
The Good and The Bad individually
The Good
Kevin Durant
Perhaps I don't give Durant his due enough, tonight he did a great job of scoring when the Thunder need him to and also played great defense and rebounded well. This was his 5th straight game with at least 30 points and he had a double double with 11 rebounds.
Russell Westbrook
Westbrook was the other Thunder player to have a double double with 10 assists and 11 points. He also had 7 rebounds, a steal, a block, and only 2 turnovers. Down the stretch at the end of the game He took care of the ball and got to the line a couple of times.
The Bad
Ibaka was quiet in only 7 minutes, Krstic was playing well and the Thunder went with a smaller lineup much of the night with Collison. Harden rebounded from a terrible first half to go 2-2 in the fourth quarter. It would have been nice to see the Thunder put the Wizards away earlier in the game, you can't continue to let teams stay in the game or eventually one will step up and beat ya.
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