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06.03.2019 01:18
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OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma City may soon have to address the issue of slow defensive starts that lead to double-digit deficits. On Sunday, the Thunder just wanted to bask in another comeback win and another historical statistical performance by Kevin Durant. Durant recorded his first triple-double of the season with 32 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists, and the Thunder rallied for another fourth-quarter win, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 113-103. Durant also added four blocked shots and four steals. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he is the first NBA player to record 30 or more points, 10 or more rebounds, 12 or more assists, four or more steals and four or more blocks in the same game since blocks and steals became official NBA stats during the 1973-74 season. "Kevin is a stat filler," coach Scott Brooks said. "He can do it all and he has the ability to have large scoring nights, rebounding, assists and steals and blocked shots. Hes one of the few guys that can do that. Thats what makes us a good defensive team, because he can guard not only his man, he can guard multiple positions." Oklahoma City extended its winning streak to seven games, tops in the Western Conference, and moved to 9-0 on the season at home, matching the franchises longest home winning streak to open a season, set in Seattle in 2004. "You always want to play tough, aggressive defensive basketball for 48 minutes," Brooks said. "We didnt do it tonight, but we came back in the second half and made some adjustments and took care of the things we thought were important. We have to play much better going on the road." Kevin Martin, in his return to Oklahoma City after joining Minnesota during the off-season, led the Timberwolves with 24 points, while Nikola Pekovic had 22 points and 10 rebounds. The Thunder have beaten Minnesota eight straight times at home, dating to the 2008-09 season, the franchises first in Oklahoma City. Minnesota led 83-78 entering the fourth quarter but wilted against Oklahoma Citys defence, scoring just 20 points. Meanwhile, Durant had two of the Thunders six 3-pointers in the quarter and finished off his fourth career triple-double. His previous three came last season. Asked if a triple-double meant anything to him, Durant didnt even mention his stat line during his answer, focusing instead on his teammates defensive effort. "Im glad we got the W," Durant said. "We came out a little sluggish on the defensive end early on, but they started off 80 per cent (from the field). Holding them to 41 per cent from the game was really big. I think our bigs did a good job of frustrating the two bigs on the other end. We kind of fed off their energy." Overcoming large deficits has been a Thunder specialty this season. Oklahoma City rallied from double-digit, second-half deficits in wins over Denver and Washington, and trailed by 11 points in the first half against the Timberwolves. Durant and Jeremy Lamb each hit a 3-pointer during an 8-0 run by Oklahoma City to start the fourth quarter, with Lambs giving the Thunder their first lead at 84-83. Reggie Jackson and Durant later hit 3-pointers to put Oklahoma City up 94-88 with 7:48 left and the Thunder werent threatened after that. "Well, it was a tough game," Minnesota coach Rick Adelman said. "I thought the boys played really well the first three quarters. We competed and moved the ball. Fourth quarter, we just went with that small lineup and had some miscommunication and they kind of took control of the game then." The Timberwolves routed Oklahoma City 100-81 in the second game of the season, on Nov. 1, although the Thunder played without All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook in that game. Westbrook scored 19 points Sunday and Jackson came off the bench to finish 8 of 11 from the field and score 18 points, helping the Thunder shoot a season-best 56.3 per cent. Serge Ibaka added 15 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots for Oklahoma City. Kevin Love had 16 points and 12 rebounds for Minnesota, hitting his first three 3-point attempts in the first quarter but missing his other three attempts. Love finished 4 of 14 from the field. Minnesota led by as many as 11 points during a freewheeling first half. Martin scored 17 points, while Durant countered with 20 points on 9-of-11 shooting for the Thunder, who shot 58 per cent. NOTES: As do most former Thunder players, when Martin was introduced before the game, he received a polite round of applause and a few cheers from the crowd at Chesapeake Energy Arena . Oklahoma City C Kendrick Perkins and Pekovic both received technical fouls after getting tangled up under the Minnesota basket early in the third quarter . When Minnesota G Ricky Rubio gave a "What? Me?" look after being called for a first-quarter foul while guarding Westbrook, referee Joey Crawford yelled at Rubio, "Dont be looking at me like that." Rubio picked up his second foul soon after, also from Crawford . Oklahoma City swept its season-high, six-game homestand. Its just the second time the franchise has swept a homestand of six games or longer. Seattle swept a seven-game homestand during the 1977-78 season. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys .C. -- Charles Oakley, one of the NBAs all-time tough guys, may not return to the Charlotte Bobcats bench next season because of a painful back condition he says was caused during an assault last year in Las Vegas. Hockey Jerseys China . This is not some token job for a prominent, popular former player. All of those areas need a lot of work, so Molitor is going to be busy. "Hes certainly got a history and knowledge and a high baseball IQ," general manager Terry Ryan said. http://www.cheapnhljerseysusa.com/. PETERSBURG, Fla. Cheap NHL Jerseys China . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic . Cammalleri suffered a concussion in the Flames 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. The 31-year-old forward did not travel with the team to Carolina.Meagan Duhamel of Lively, Ont., and Eric Radford of Balmertown, Ont., captured their fourth Canadian pairs title with a national record performance. The duo scored 150.69 and a total 230.19, both Canadian championship records. Lubov Ilyushechkina annd Dylan Moscovitch of Toronto were second with 187.dddddddddddd85, while Julianne Seguin of Longueuil, Que. and Charlie Bilodeau of Notre-Dame-du-Portage, Que., winners of this seasons junior Grand Prix Final, were third with 181.43. ' ' ' |
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