3-Point Goals: Minnesota 7-21 (Rubio 3-6, Wiggins 2-5, LaVine 1-1, Ty.Jones 1-4, Bjelica 0-1, Dieng 0-1, Muhammad 0-3), Oklahoma City 6-27 (Westbrook 3-6, Durant 2-5, Foye 1-4, Ibaka 0-1, Roberson 0-1, Singler 0-4, Morrow 0-6). Leonard may have closed out the win for San Antonio, but it was LaMarcus Aldridge who was on fire early on and tallied 24 points and nine rebounds.
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In capturing their 56th victory, the Spurs clinched the Southwest Division for the fifth time in the past six years, while setting an National Basketball Association record by rolling to 51 wins in a row this season when outshooting their opponent.
“We made it clear to him there’s only two outcomes”, Popovich said.
You can’t stop a athletic missile of a point guard and a shooter the height of a redwood every play, but when know there’s an overwhelming statistical likelihood for just a small amount of possibilities, you only have to set up your defense to deal with a few scenarios. We got good looks the whole game, but they weren’t going in.
The Thunder shot just 38 percent from the field, and were just 2 for 18 from three-point range, while committing 19 turnovers.
Russell Westbrook added 19 points, seven assists and six rebounds in Saturday’s game against the Spurs.
The Oklahoma City Thunder hold the third best record in the Western Conference and have virtually locked in their spot in the playoffs.
“They hit shots down the stretch”, said Durant.
Kawhi Leonard drives to the basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Thunder saw another lead in the fourth quarter vanish a day after falling 99-96 at home to Minnesota when Ricky Rubio’s 3-pointer with two seconds remaining capped a late rally. “It’s the first time we’ve beat them in a long time”. “We gotta find a way to get wins – 4-8 is unacceptable for our team. It was a slugfest”. That was the 12th time the Thunder have blown a lead entering the 4th quarter this season. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich credited Green, who had just five points and none until the fourth quarter, with never losing his confidence.
The win is Spurs’ 41st consecutive one at home.
While Durant is most likely not a lock to bolt Oklahoma City should the team fall short again, another failure may not help their case to retain him as well.
Texas: Kawhi Leonard dropped 26 points on Sunday helping the San Antonio Spurs beat Oklahoma City Thunder 93-85. A 26-point turn around in the final quarter – something that simply shouldn’t be happening.
Kevin Durant finished with 28 points, but it took him 25 shots to get there.
The Spurs home stand continues when they host the Clippers Tuesday night.
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Thanks to their versatility of talent, “Live by the three, die by the three” is a stereotype the Spurs largely manage to avoid, but in games like last night’s matchup versus Oklahoma City, it’s evident how much of SA’s offensive flow depends on knocking down shots from beyond the arc. – Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images/AFP picSuperstar sharp-shooter Stephen Curry, who missed most of the third quarter because of foul trouble, returned to score 15 points in the final frame.
