Hoops Habit
Fansided

OKC Thunder: 3-game losing streak could hurt team’s playoff bid

By Albert Dadson

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK- FEBRUARY 28: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on prior to the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on February 28, 2019 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK- FEBRUARY 28: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on prior to the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on February 28, 2019 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The OKC Thunder have lost three in a row and are in danger of losing the third seed. They will have to get back to their winning ways in the next upcoming games.

The Oklahoma City Thunder dropped their third game in a row, falling to the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night. The OKC Thunder will have to get back to their winning ways against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night.

The three-game losing streak is the longest losing streak since the Thunder started the season 0-4.

In the first game against the Sacramento Kings, the Thunder allowed Buddy Hield to explode for 34 points. They got a good game from Russell Westbrook as he was able to score 41 points and grab 10 rebounds, but Paul George only scored 14 points.

George had an MVP-caliber month, but that game was a drop off from his consistency in the month of February. George averaged 35.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 2.1 steals per game last month.

The next loss was against the Denver Nuggets. In that game, George and Westbrook were able to give the Thunder balance. George dropped 25 points with eight rebounds, seven assists and six steals.

Westbrook had a near triple-double with 22 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists. Jerami Grant even added 21 points to the scoring effort.

But on the other hand, Nikola Jokic was able to drop 36 points. He almost had a triple-double with 10 assists and nine rebounds. Will Barton had 23 points and Jamal Murray added 20 points.

The Nuggets also shot lights-out from the 3-point line. They shot 13-of-28 (46.4 percent) from beyond the arc while the Thunder only shot 10-for-38 (26.3 percent) from 3-point range.

The last game was the usual dog fight between the Philadelphia 76ers and OKC Thunder. The Sixers were finally able to beat the Thunder after falling 19 times before.

The Thunder were without George that game as he had a sore right shoulder so for them to drop that game is no surprise. The Thunder do not have any player that can recreate what George can do for them on the court.

The last matchup between the two teams George was the one that gave the Thunder the win after he completed a four-point play. This game Tobias Harris was too much to handle as he ended up dropping 32 points.

For the OKC Thunder, these losses could hurt when you look at the fact that if the Portland Trail Blazers were able to beat the Toronto Raptors last night they would have had the third seed.

The Thunder lucked out though as a Kawhi Leonard game-winner helped the Thunder retain the third seed.

The Trail Blazers are quietly looking to come and take the third seed. The OKC Thunder wanted to fight for the second seed but these losses (especially the one against the Nuggets) hurt that effort.

Untimely injuries and just bad play will hurt the Thunder in their quest to get a higher seed which is one of their goals after the All-Star break.

With Portland quietly approaching the third seed, OKC will need to string together some wins to separate themselves from the Blazers and continue their fight to get a higher seed.

Paul George will come back and the Thunder will continue their good play. OKC’s next three games will be against the eighth seed San Antonio Spurs, 14th seed Memphis Grizzlies and the 11th seed Minnesota Timberwolves.

Next. The 50 greatest NBA players of all time (updated for 2017-18). dark

With a good chance to win those games, they should be able to maintain the third seed.

Home/Oklahoma City Thunder