Oklahoma City Thunder strike late to edge out Phoenix Suns 115-104: NBA Recap
On Wednesday night, the Phoenix Suns stepped inside the Chesapeake Energy Arena with a tall task at their hands, the one which involved the Oklahoma City Thunder, who had won 13 consecutive games at home.
Deep into the game, they were on their way to pull off task but then Thunder surged and used a 4th quarter muscle to humble the Suns, 115-104.
Russell Westbrook paved their way as he tallied a game high 31 points and handed out 10 assists while Kevin Durant collected 30 points and 6 rebounds. Another impressive performance from James Harden was also witnessed as he scored 30 points coming off the bench. Serge Ibaka stood tall with 20 boards and 18 points.
Thunder retained the Suns’ shooting to 34.3% in the 2nd frame, in which Phoenix couldn’t hit a single 3-pointer. The scenario got worse in the last stanza as they connected only 17.6% from the floor and went 0-for-8 from 3-point line.
Thunder’s coach Scott Brooks was impressed by the impervious defence of his team.
"That fourth quarter defence was another great performance. We did a much better job (on defence) in the second half. We weren't getting back in the first half but we did in the second."
Suns opened the game with a 14-9 lead and ballooned it to 24-11 deep into the 1st frame. Thunder started to resist late but they could only get as close as 34-25 by the end of opening quarter.
Phoenix raced off to another 8-3 run early in the 2nd and claimed a 42-28 advantage. Midway through the frame, the Suns were leading by 46-37 but Oklahoma shaved off their lead to 48-44 after creating a 7-2 run.
In the ensuing passage, the game remained tight but visitors managed to maintain their lead at 64-58 going into the break.
Kevin Durant opened the 3rd stanza with a jumper and reduced the gap to 64-60; however the Suns came up with 8 unanswered points and claimed a double digit, 72-60, lead. Phoenix had managed to augment their advantage to 84-68, before Oklahoma City turned the game on its head.
OKC thundered off to a 16-2 spurt that slashed down their deficit to 86-84. Shannon Brown hit a pair from charity stripe, pushing Suns ahead at 88-84 by the end of period.
Early in the last quarter, Phoenix were leading at 90-84 when Kevin Durant hit one from downtown to instigate a 14-1 spurt and Thunder never looked back after that.
Suns coach Alvin Gentry acknowledged his team’s dismal run in the 4th frame.
"We probably could have weathered the 30 points from Durant but we can't do 30 from another guy. I thought we played great for three quarters and then we struggled offensively in the fourth. You gotta be able to do it for 48 minutes."
Marcin Gortat tallied a team high 28 points and 11 rebounds while Jared Dudley had 17 and 11 boards for the Suns. Channing Frye netted13; veteran Steve Nash handed 13 assists and had 12 points as did Shannon Brown.
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