By Michael Doutey
It may have taken longer than we all expected, but the Thunder have clinched a spot in the 2018 playoffs with an impressive 115-93 win over the Miami Heat. The Thunder got off to a really slow start, missing their first 10 shots and fell behind by 18 points in the first quarter. Then the Thunder chipped away and finally took their first lead with 10:28 to go in the game. The Thunder closed out the game in a huge way, exploding on offense and playing tremendous team defense. This was a huge win for OKC following up their monstrous win in Houston over the weekend. Here are tonight’s five observations from a playoff clinching win.
1. 39-12
OKC entered the fourth quarter trailing by five. The Thunder bench, who struggled in the first half, played really well in the fourth. OKC and Miami were tied at 86-86 with 8:41 left to go. That’s when OKC kicked it into overdrive, closing the game out on a 29-7 run. The Thunder erupted for 39 fourth quarter points and suffocated the Heat offense, giving up just 12 points in the final frame. The Thunder forced turnovers, contested shots, got out in the passing lanes and played stifling defense. It was a total team effort and the Thunder got the boost to start the fourth from the bench and then the Thunder starters came in and multiplied the Thunder efforts to close this one out.
2. Jerami Grant Lead 4th Quarter Explosion
The play of Jerami Grant has been nothing short of phenomenal the past couple months. And he seems to be getting better and better. Against Houston, he closed the game out against the Rockets. Tonight, he was instrumental in the Thunder’s comeback victory. His ability to drive the basketball has become a game changer. He is finishing at the rim and through contact. He is able to run the pick-and-roll really well with either Russell Westbrook or Raymond Felton. He is also playing great on defense. He had a couple huge blocks in Houston and had two more tonight. He also drew a huge charge in the fourth quarter. Grant’s play has lifted the Thunder bench and he’s taken over the Thunder’s 6th man role. He scored 17 points on 4-6 shooting, 9-11 from the line, grabbed five rebounds, had two blocks, a steal and was a plus-24 in his 21 minutes of play.
3. It’s Officially Triple-Double Watch Time
Russell Westbrook was fantastic tonight, to put it simply. He was great, playing nice defense, moving the basketball well and ran the fast break. Westbrook scored 23 points on a not so great 8-21 shooting and 2-5 from three, adding 13 assists and grabbed 18 rebounds. Those rebounds leaked OKC out on the fast break and were able to score easy baskets at the rim. That was huge in the avalanche of a run OKC went on in the fourth quarter. Russ came into the night 34 rebounds shy of averaging 10 rebounds per-game, which would mean Russ would average a triple-double for a second consecutive season. So, since Russ grabbed 18 rebounds tonight, that means he needs 16 rebounds Wednesday to secure this amazing feat. Westbrook was probably trying to grab some extra rebounds tonight, so be prepared for Russ to find a way to secure 16 on Wednesday night.
4. What Free Throw Issues?
The Thunder have had issues at the free throw line this season, but OKC did a nice job of attacking the basket and forcing foul calls. The Thunder as a team did a nice job at the line, shooting 31-38 from the line. The Thunder were lead by PG at the line, who shot 8-9 from the line, Russ was 5-6 at the line and Jerami Grant was great going 9-11 from the stripe. When those guys get to the stripe and knock down their shots, this team is tough.
5. Three Point Shot Was OKC’s Ally
The Thunder are an average at best team at shooting the three ball. But tonight, OKC had a huge edge from behind the arc. The Thunder shot 40 percent (14-35), while the Heat shot just 22 percent (5-22). The Thunder outscored the Heat 42-15 from three, a difference of 27 points. PG lead the Thunder in threes, making 5-13 (too many shots from three for me), Russ was 2-5, Patrick Patterson 2-3 (including a four-point-play that fueled the Thunder early in the 4th), Felton was 2-4, Abrines was 1-1 (left the game with concussion-like symptoms) and Terrance Ferguson was 1-2 (made a huge corner three early in the 4th to cut the lead to two).
The Thunder will finish off the regular season on Wednesday night was they host the Memphis Grizzlies. Tip is set for 7 p.m. inside the Peake.
