Photo by Nate Billings of the Daily Oklahoman
OKC’s Russell Westbrook was all over the bad decision making tonight. He also had about four beautiful redeeming moments, but it was hardly enough to erase the small question mark in the back of fans heads about whether he should even be starting.
Dallas’ Jason Kidd never gives up, is always consistent and was a thorn in the side of the Thunder all night long. He didn’t loose his cool once. Not even a tiny bit.
Dirk Nowitzki, however, lost his cool all night long – his acting job continued as he plead for any foul favor he could get from the officials. He pushed too far, however, in the third quarter by telling an official that a call against him was F*ing B*Sh*t, and paid for that with a technical. The reaction from the crown was primal as they booed him and took pleasure in watching the “T-hammer” come down. He’s Dallas’ crown jewel, but I just don’t like his style.
James Hardin came through with tricky, slicky lay-ups that brought the crowd to their feet on four different occasions. OKC fans yelled “Fear the Beard” as he ran down the court with a grin on his face.
The game was give and take, get ahead then fall behind, up and down the court for 48 solid minutes of team-on-team full body play. But in the end, a beautiful and timeless moment in basketball sealed the win for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The score was 102-101 in Dallas’ favor and the game was about to end.There was only 1.4 seconds left on the clock and people were putting on their coats to leave. The Fans who headed for the exits will rue their decision for a long, long time. When they thought the Oklahoma City Thunder had lost the game – they were wrong.
Kevin Durant “told Thabo [Sefolosha] to give [him] the ball.” Durant, who now has more 30-point games than any player since the 2008-2009 season, got the in-bounds pass, turned to his left, and planted a beautiful 3-point jump shot that drained the bucket in perfect fashion.
Yes, the crowd went wild. Yes, everybody danced. And that, my friends, was some drop. Dead. Gorgeous. Basketball.
I’m completely worn out – – and I love it!