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Saturday night’s 10 game slate was highlighted by a nationally televised game between the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Both teams came into the encounter with different circumstances.For the Thunder, it was their second game of a back to back while the Spurs were playing after a day off. Since the All-Star break the Spurs have dropped just two games and won 12 of 14. On the flip side, the Thunder have four games but have lost eight.Before the game, San Antonio were tied third for most consecutive home game wins with 40 and were laying that record on the line against the Thunder. Despite trailing by two heading into the fourth, the Spurs played astute defence, executed on offense and outscored their opponents 27-17 in the final period, to win the game 93-85. The Spurs now stand alone in the third spot for most consecutive wins at home (41).Here are the five major talking points from the game:
#5 OKC\'s tricky schedule ahead doesn\'t help their cause
The date set for the 2016 NBA Playoffs is April 16th and till the end of the regular season the Thunder have 16 games remaining. Unfortunately only five of those 16 are against non-Playoff teams. Here’s a breakdown of the team’s remaining schedule:
| Opponents | Games Remaining |
|---|---|
| San Antonio Spurs | 2 |
| Houston Rockets | 2 |
| Portland Trailblazers | 2 |
| Boston Celtics | 1 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 1 |
| Sacramento Kings | 1 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 1 |
| Toronto Raptors | 1 |
| Indiana Pacers | 1 |
| Denver Nuggets | 1 |
| Detroit Pistons | 1 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 1 |
| Utah Jazz | 1 |
With the Clippers at their heels to grab their third seed, The Thunder need to rack up as many wins as they can from the remaining 16 games. The game against the Celtics being played in Boston is going to be really competitive. Damian Lillard and the Trailblazers are sure to make sure the Thunder sweat and work for their wins. The Clippers face the Thunder one last time this season after the return of Power Forward Blake Griffin.
Oklahoma City still have two such match-ups remaining with the Spurs. They have two left against the unpredictable Houston Rockets. This final stretch of the season also see’s them play the second seed in the East the Raptors.
It’s a tough stretch for the team but they need to muster up some wins to give themselves some confidence before the post-season begins.
#4 The Thunder\'s fourth quarter issues continue
While the Spurs executed to perfection in the fourth quarter, the Thunder did anything but that. Compared the San Antonio’s one turnovers and six assists, Oklahoma City recorded six turnovers and just two assists.The biggest problem for the team is these fourth quarter collapses are not a one game phenomenon but have actually happened in every loss since the All-Star Game.
After this most recent loss, the Thunder now have 12 such instance when they lose the game after leading heading into the fourth quarter. They lead the league in this stat while the second placed teams is the 9 wins Philadelphia 76ers with 10 such instances. Nine of the 12 losses have after the All-Star break and that’s the major issue. When considered realistic contenders the team can’t afford to collapse like this in the final minutes so regularly.
Furthermore these losses are not just a L on their schedule or record but they have been confidence breaking losses. A 23 point whooping at home at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers, a 21 points comeback win by the Los Angeles Clippers, a four point loss to the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans, a comeback win by 15 points by Golden State Warriors and last but the least a dagger game winner by Ricky Rubio of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
#3 Spurs showcase depth and experience with the win
Eleven of the 15 players on the Spurs roster took the floor on Saturday night and contributed efficiently in the team win. LaMarcus Aldridge carried the team early scoring 13 of the team’s 25 points in the first quarter on 6 of 7 shooting from the field and 2 of 2 from the free throw line. In the fourth, 2014 NBA Finals MVP Leonard led the team in scoring with 9 of the team’s 27 points and also played stellar defense on Westbrook.
Off the bench Patty Mills and David West were huge. The former contributed 4 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists in 19 minutes while the recently acquired big man had 8 points (6 to start the fourth) and 7 rebounds in 26 minutes.
Since the masterclass of the 2014 NBA Finals, the Spurs have stuck to their formula to drive and kick, and keep the ball moving with crisp quick passes to the next open man in an attempt to get the best shot possible. It’s almost been close to two years since then and the team has perfected the art of running together, totally destroying the opponents.
This game’s fourth quarter the team not only outscored the Thunder 27-17 but had 6 assists in the quarter’s 10 field goals. Most importantly through the final 12 minutes of the game, the team had only turnovers of their total 11.
#2 Bad shooting night and too many turnovers for OKC\'s All-Star duo
For the last four of their eight seasons together, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant have been the focal point of pretty much everything for the Thunder. So in a big game against the 55-10 Spurs, they needed to show up if the team was to win. However, neither superstar had an efficient or productive night on Saturday that could swing the game in their favour.
The only highlight from both player’s box scores were their assists. They amassed 15 (Durant-8, Westbrook-7) of the team’s 18 assists. Having said that, they combined to register 12 (Westbrook-12, Durant-3) of the team’s 18 turnovers and each had horrific shooting nights.
Durant got it going in the third quarter, not just with the assists but also his own shots but seemed to have disappeared in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Westbrook shot 5 of 16 (31.25%) from the field, had sloppy turnovers in the first half and absolutely ruined the possession down the stretch with unnecessary, rushed shots that yielding nothing.
Both players finished in negatives (Durant: -2, Westbrook: -1) in the team’s +/- box score statistic. Although the stat is just marginally negative, the team just can't afford to have the duo have a negative effect on the game when they have so much run through them on offense.
#1 Horrid 3 point shooting night for both teams
Over the past couple of years, the NBA game has gradually but surely shifted focus towards the three point line. Wing players who can shoot threes and play good defence have become hot commodities and are being paid like never before. The face of the league, MVP Stephen Curry is a wonderful example of how the evolution of the game has forced teams to switch their focus to the three-pointer.
The last few years have seen teams shying away from the fabled mid-range jumper in favour of the more statistically favoured three point shot. For example, Curry over the last two seasons has knocked down 597 three pointers while one of the good three point shooters of the 1980’s, Larry Bird shot 649 for his career.
Keeping that in mind, the match-up between the Spurs and Thunder saw anything but good three point shooting. San Antonio had four different players (Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Patty Mills and Kevin Martin) shoot one three-pointer each and as a team, they shot 4 of 24 (16.7%). Oklahoma City were not far behind with just two three-pointers (Westbrook and Andre Roberson) on 2 of 18 shooting (11.1%).
For benchmark purposes: The Spurs has a team through the previous 65 games shot 38.5% from beyond the arc. The Thunder in 64 games shot 35% from long distance.
