By: Michael Doutey
The Oklahoma City Thunder snap their three game losing skid with a 101-91 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday afternoon. The Thunder really needed this win after suffering blowout losses to the Suns, Trail Blazers and Timberwolves. The Thunder move to 23-20 on the season and with the win the Thunder have moved back into fifth place in the Western Conference standings. Here are your five observations from OKC’s much needed win.
1. Bench Unit’s Tale of Two Halves
The Thunder built a nice lead in the first quarter but the second unit gave it away with poor play in the second quarter. The Thunder starters were not able to make up the deficit as OKC trailed 59-55 at the half. The Thunder starters didn’t really make up much ground in the third quarter as both the Thunder and the Hornets struggled to score. To start the fourth quarter OKC trailed by three, but the second unit showed up in a big way as the Thunder starters were handed a nine point lead to close out the game. The second unit played really well on defense and turned it into offense. Alex Abrines, Josh Huestis, Patrick Patterson and Jerami Grant all hit three’s in the first few minutes of the fourth quarter. But the second unit was lead by Raymond Felton who was a monster in the fourth. While the Thunder second unit did give up the lead in the first half, the second unit ended up winning this game for OKC in the fourth quarter.
2. Uncle Ray’s Big 4th Quarter
Raymond Felton has ended up being one of the best free agency acquisitions Sam Presti made last offseason. He has been just as important, if not more important, than what Carmelo Anthony has brought to OKC. He has been really solid scoring off the bench for OKC. But he was huge for OKC in the fourth as he ran circles around the Hornets defense. He ended up scoring eight points and had five assists. He was the difference in the game.
3. Steven Adams
Adams was a monster in the game. He has been a little off the past week or so, just like the whole team has been. But Adams was really outstanding in this game as he scored 14 points and he grabbed 11 rebounds. He was great on defense but he was a force on the glass. He was especially great on the offensive glass as he gathered seven offensive boards and had many other bat-backs that allowed someone else in Thunder blue to gather the rebound and reset the offense. What was more impressive than just the numbers was who Steven was playing. Dwight Howard isn’t the same “Superman” from his days in Orlando, but he is having his best year since he left the Magic. Adams was so good on Saturday.
4. Solid Showing from Alex Abrines
The single biggest disappointment from this season has been Alex Abrines. He is a guy I had high hopes for after a solid rookie campaign. Alex has been unplayable at times this season and I’ve worried about his confidence as we go through the rough stretch of the season. But Alex was really good tonight, as he scored nine points on 2-3 shooting from deep, one coming during a huge run the Thunder’s bench unit made in the fourth quarter. Alex was also a plus-13 in the game, which was the highest on the team. OKC could really use Abrines’ shooting in the second half of the season.
5. What to Make of this Win
The Thunder really needed to get a win. It didn’t matter who it was against. OKC needed to just play well and win a game. But the Thunder are kind of in a losing situation with this win. The Thunder should beat a team like the Hornets. The Hornets, who are 16-25 on the season, are the types of teams the Thunder struggle against. Earlier in December the Thunder were run out of their own gym against the Hornets in possibly the Thunder’s worst loss of the season. However, this is a good win simply because the Thunder needed a win. OKC still needs to consistently beat teams like the Kings and Lakers who are below .500, which has been easier said than done for OKC. The Thunder will get their shot this week to down a few winnable games before a big game with the Cleveland Cavaliers next Saturday afternoon.
The Thunder will be back in action on Monday night as the Thunder play host to the Sacramento Kings. Tip is set for 7 p.m. inside the Chesapeake Energy Arena.
