NBA
Thunder Hold Off Jazz, Win Hard Fought Game in Utah 107-106
The Oklahoma City Thunder almost squandered a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter. However, Donovan Mitchell couldn’t send the Utah Jazz into overtime at the free-throw line and the Thunder were victorious 107-106. Russell Westbrook fouled Mitchell with 1.5 seconds left. It opened the door for the Jazz to possibly tie the game.
Westbrook fouled out, which depending on your interpretation, might have been a positive. Mitchell went to the free throw line, missing the first one and made the second free-throw, which he was trying to miss to regain possession. The Thunder threw the ball in after he made it and that was the game. Westbrook hugged Paul George in relief.
Last year, the Thunder team were embarrassed by the Jazz in the playoffs. The Thunder didn’t let that get to them and they are now up 2-0 in the regular season series. This has all the makings of a rivalry and of course ended in dramatic fashion.
MVP Paul George?
George is having a career-defining season thus far. He is averaging 26.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists and over two steals a game. He has been incredible on both sides of the ball, and it isn’t a stretch to say he is the team’s best player overall.
Last night, he made a mockery of the Jazz’s defense, finishing with 43 points on 15-25 shooting and 5-10 from three. He also had 14 rebounds, six assists and five steals. Those are ridiculous numbers and he’s been the best player wearing a Thunder jersey this season.
It didn’t even matter who was in front of him. He has been unstoppable. George is on back-to-back 40-point games and he has had the green-light to fire away. He carried this team to a win.
Westbrook Woes
Westbrook is on the opposite end of fantastic this year, struggling with his shooting which is shocking. Last night, he was a woeful 3-17 from the field and was essentially a negative for this Thunder team. Sure, he has openly taken a back-seat for George and has let him be the guy. However, Westbrook’s shot needs to improve if the Thunder want to go where they want to go.
The month of December has not been his friend. In 11 games, he’s only shot over 40 percent in five of those games. That is brutal by Westbrook’s standards and he needs to fix that as soon as possible.
Is it a Rivalry?
After last years playoffs, the Thunder and Jazz don’t seem to get along all that much. Joe Ingles and Jae Crowder were flexing their muscles while out-playing George and Carmelo Anthony. Ricky Rubio had a better playoff series than Westbrook. You saw the Thunder lose their cool in game six. It got ugly for the Thunder, but they are much more concentrated and coach-able this time around.
It seems the Thunder have the upper-hand against this Jazz team who are going through struggles of their own. Things were getting chippy and George exchanged words to Jazz fans, but it was controlled unlike last year.
Jazz Continue to Struggle
Like Westbrook, Mitchell has had struggles of his own shooting the basketball. He is averaging 20 points a game on 18 shots, and is shooting only 40 percent from the field. Last year, this team felt like it could be a real threat if they added one more key piece. However, they didnt as they elected to keep the same team. They are 16-18 on the season and are on the outside looking-in when it comes to the playoff picture.
Mitchell did seem to have a better game all-around, scoring 20 points, grabbing nine rebounds, and dishing out six assists. Rubio had himself a solid game as well. He scored 12 points and totaled 14 assists. With four minutes left in the game and down nine, the Jazz tried to make a comeback out of it, out-scoring the Thunder 11-3. But Mitchell’s free-throw situation ended the game in a one-point loss.
There isn’t another guy on the Jazz who can create their own shot, and that will be the struggle for them going through the rest of the season.
Thunder Back on Top
The Thunder are on a four-game winning streak, advancing to 21-10 on the season. They’re tied for first in the Western Conference with the Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors. George is continuing to prove that he should be considered as an MVP candidate and they should be taken seriously this year.
Guys like Jerami Grant, Steven Adams, and Dennis Schroder are putting together huge contributions this month with Westbrook struggling. It’s been a big key as to why they are this good. They might be the best defensive team this year and if Westbrook can get his shot to fall, this win-streak could be huge.
They take on the Minnesota Timberwolves Sunday night at home at 9:00 p.m.
Photo Credit
Highlight Store via Flickr
Writer Brandan Verrastro
