San Antonio dominated Oklahoma City Saturday night with a 124-92 rout in Game 1 of the second round of the National Basketball Association playoffs.
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Now, the Thunder will have to regroup and figure out how they’re going to rebound on the road at San Antonio in Game 2.
LaMarcus Aldridge (left) was in magnificent form for the Spurs and tallied 38 points.
Danny Green led the Spurs’ long-range attack by hitting 5 of 6 from beyond the arc and scoring 18 points.
Kevin Durant had 16 points, and Russell Westbrook added 14, but they were harassed into 11-for-34 shooting. San Antonio shot 18-of-22 in the first quarter – 81.8 percent. “The score definitely didn’t say that, but it wasn’t like everybody came into the game not caring”. San Antonio had already built a 21 point lead (yes, 21), but Payne was hoping to surge a comeback (he didn’t). Leonard spent much of Game 1 guarding Westbrook, helping force him into a 5-for-19 night from the floor. They were led by All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge.
Most people probably had the Spurs winning Game 1, but I don’t think many people would have predicted such a margin of victory for what is supposed to be a tight series. Considering just how thoroughly the Thunder were dominated by the Spurs offense, some of those adjustments will undoubtedly have to be defensive.
“Tony played a great floor game”, San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said.
Green played fantastic defense on Durant and Westbrook, and he outscored them both, too.
NOTES: San Antonio’s first-round series victory against Memphis marked the 19th for the Spurs since 1984, which ranks second in National Basketball Association history behind the Los Angeles Lakers (22). San Antonio scored 43 points in the first quarter, setting a playoff record for most points in a period, and cruised. Oklahoma City must play a whole lot better if they want to rebound from Saturday night’s 124-92 defeat to San Antonio. “Shots were falling for me and my teammates were looking for me”.
At some points the offense looked like a team of intimidated middle-schoolers, playing hot-potato with the ball until the shot-clock ran out and someone had to shoot. Even if he decides to stay, a bench role could be his and the teams best option moving forward and that would mean the front office would need to add a center over the summer.
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Saturday evening was a team effort for San Antonio, who diced up the Thunder’s shoddy pick-and-roll defense and outran them in transition the who time. A new age, two-headed monster with frustrated superstars who still can’t quite figure out how to get everyone involved, versus the continuity of an immaculately run Spurs franchise with a team-first philosophy and a changing of the guards happening in nearly seamless fashion. San Antonio has preferred experience to youth, one look at the roster and that statement is clear. “We’re not going to make 30 passes in a possession”.
