Paul George fouls out in OKC Thunder’s dominant win
The OKC Thunder were able to beat the Indiana Pacers and avoid losing three straight games.
Paul George was going to face his old team and he was excited to do so, but he never got a chance to do anything against his team because of foul trouble. George eventually fouled out with 6:15 left in the fourth and he finished with 10 points and one rebound after playing 19 minutes. Fortunately, the Oklahoma City Thunder were still able to win, 114-96.
Steven Adams (17 points and 11 rebounds), Carmelo Anthony (28 points and 10 rebounds) and Russell Westbrook (28 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds) were able to pick up the slack for the OKC Thunder. Both Adams and Anthony scored double-doubles and Westbrook got yet another triple double. With three players filling up the stat sheet, they were able to end the game rather early.
The Thunder needed this game because they lost to two teams that, on paper, they should beat in the Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves. A game against an Eastern Conference team was just what the doctor ordered for the Thunder. Their only other win came against the New York Knicks, who are also in the East.
Westbrook dominated the game and was his high-flying self, making timely 3-pointers that put the game away. Anthony found refuge in the mid-range game, making six of his 10 jumpers and layups. Melo shot 60 percent from mid-range and 42.9 percent from three. Westbrook shot 55.6 percent from the field and 50 percent from deep, making two out of four attempts.
In the plus/minus category, the Thunder’s starting lineup was superb except for Paul George, who was a -2. Adams was a +16, Anthony was a +19, Andre Roberson was a +11 and Westbrook was a +27.
The efficiency the Thunder displayed was not the only deciding factor of the game. The Thunder won the rebounding battle 49-41. The trio of the day (Adams, Westbrook and Anthony) was able to bring in 31 of those rebounds. To look deeper into those rebounds, the Thunder won the defensive rebounding battle 33-27.
Ending the other team’s possessions is crucial to team success. Carmelo Anthony was able to get all his rebounds as defensive rebounds.
The Thunder were able to get out and run this game. The Thunder are second in the league behind the Golden State Warriors in fast break points with 19.3 a game. The defensive rebounding was a big factor into helping spark fast breaks for this game.
There was no animosity at the end of the game. Westbrook and Roberson talked to Domantas Sabonis cheerfully after the game. George was seen with his old teammate Thaddeus Young in a pleasant conversation. Victor Oladipo ended the game with 35 points on 11-of-18 shooting.
Extra Thoughts
Patrick Patterson made a 3-pointer in the game after going scoreless in the two previous games. Maybe that will get him on track.
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Westbrook is close to starting the season averaging a triple-double once again. He is averaging 21.5 points, 12.8 assists and 9.5 rebounds per game, leading the team in rebounding and assists once again.