Thunder end Pistons' win streak

Steven Adams had 21 points and six rebounds in 27 minutes, and the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder snapped the Detroit Pistons' five-game winning streak with a 110-83 thumping on Monday.

Russell Westbrook contributed 18 points, six rebounds and six assists for the Thunder, who have gone 15-3 since an 0-4 start. Paul George supplied 17 points and 10 rebounds, Jerami Grant had 15 points, and Dennis Schroder racked up 12 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

Nerlens Noel added 12 points and eight rebounds for Oklahoma City, which shot 50.6 percent from the field.

Detroit's Blake Griffin had 20 points, five rebounds and four assists but went 7-for-18 from the field. Andre Drummond had 13 points and six rebounds, and Jon Leuer chipped in 12 points off the bench. The Pistons were held to 33 percent shooting.

Detroit shooting guard Reggie Bullock sustained a left ankle sprain in the early going and did not return.

The Thunder outscored the Pistons 37-19 during the third quarter to turn the game into a rout. Oklahoma City reeled off 10 unanswered points midway through the period to gain a 19-point lead.

Adams started it off with a hook shot. Westbrook followed with a pullup jumper and a three-point play. George completed the outburst with a 3-pointer to make it 68-49.

The Thunder had another 10-0 spurt later in the quarter as their lead to grew to 29. Westbrook got it going with a layup. George then had an assist and a dunk. 

Westbrook added a free throw and an assist before the Pistons finally answered. Oklahoma City's lead was 87-59 after three quarters.

The Thunder led 50-40 at halftime as they held Detroit to a season low in first-half points.

Oklahoma City forced the Pistons to take tough, contested shots, and Detroit made just 17 of 49 field-goal attempts (34.7 percent) before the break. Griffin scored 15 first-half points while Adams led the thunder with 14. 

Westbrook had five turnovers but the Thunder still shot 51.2 percent before halftime.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Thunder shut down Rockets for 7th win in a row

Paul George had 20 points and 11 rebounds as the Oklahoma City Thunder won their seventh consecutive game, beating the visiting Houston Rockets 98-80 on Thursday night.

The loss snapped a three-game winning streak by the Rockets, who were led by James Harden's 19 points. But Harden was just 7 of 19 from the floor and 4 of 12 from behind the 3-point line.

Houston's 80-point scoring effort was the lowest for an NBA team this season.

Steven Adams added 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Thunder, while Terrance Ferguson hit four 3-pointers to score 14 points.

Both teams struggled from behind the 3-point line, though. Oklahoma City was 9 of 37 (24.3 percent) from beyond the arc while Houston was 11 of 42 (26.2 percent).

The Thunder were without Russell Westbrook for the second consecutive game after Westbrook suffered a sprained ankle in Monday's win over New Orleans.

But while the Thunder looked lost at times without Westbrook during the season's first two games as the star point guard returned from offseason knee surgery, Oklahoma City used defensive intensity to find a way to win without him this time around, holding the Rockets to just 37.8 percent from the field.

George also had six steals and six assists.

Oklahoma City closed out each of the first three quarters strong.

The Thunder scored the final 10 points of the first quarter to take a 29-19 lead early, then finished the second with a 21-6 run to lead by 14 at the break.

The third was low scoring overall but Oklahoma City still outscored the Rockets 14-5 over the final seven minutes to take a 20-point lead going into the fourth.

The game was the first for Carmelo Anthony in Oklahoma City since leaving the Thunder in an offseason trade, which wound up with him being bought out and eventually signing in Houston. 

He scored just two points, going 1 of 11 from the field in 20 minutes.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Westbrook's Thunder roll over Bulls

LOS ANGELES -- Russell Westbrook fell one rebound shy of his 18th triple-double of the season, but his 21 points were plenty in the Oklahoma City Thunder's 109-94 NBA victory over the Bulls in Chicago.

NBA scoring leader Westbrook maintained his sizzling form, adding 14 assists and nine rebounds in the win.

It's the fourth time this season he has finished one point, one rebound or one assist shy of a triple-double.

The anticipated clash between Westbrook and red-hot Bulls forward Jimmy Butler didn't materialize, with Butler hampered by the illness that prevented him from attending Chicago's morning shoot-around.

Butler, who was named the NBA's Eastern Conference Player of the Week earlier Monday, played just under 29 minutes and finished with just one point.

He went 0-for-6 from the field and was taken out of the game in the second half because of the illness.

Veteran Dwyane Wade scored 22 points, Michael Carter-Williams added 15 and Jerian Grant and Cristiano Felicio contributed 11 points apiece for the Bulls.

But it wasn't enough to keep pace with the Thunder, who had three players besides Westbrook score in double figures.

Center Steven Adams of New Zealand scored 22 points, big man Enes Kanter of Turkey added 20 and Victor Oladipo contributed 13.

Oklahoma City led most of the first half, building a 17-point margin in the second quarter and taking a 61-46 lead into the locker room at halftime.

A three-point play by Taj Gibson with 6:51 left in the third pulled the Bulls within 67-57, but Chicago would get no closer.

- Rose no-show -

 New Orleans forward Anthony Davis produced another big game in New York, his 40 points leading the Pelicans to a 110-96 victory over the Knicks.

Davis also pulled down 18 rebounds and blocked three shots, but the buzz at Madison Square Garden centered on the player who wasn't there -- Knicks guard Derrick Rose.

Rose was a late, unexplained scratch, and his absence apparently took the Knicks by surprise. New York coach Jeff Hornacek could do little to clarify the situation after the game.

"Right now we don't have enough information to really give you anything," Hornacek said. "So that's just going to have to wait until we hear something from Derrick himself."

The rest of the Knicks didn't really step up in Rose's absence. Star forward Carmelo Anthony was ejected for arguing about the officiating late in the third quarter, shortly before reserve Kyle O'Quinn was thrown out for a hard foul from behind on Davis that sent the Pelicans star flying into some courtside seats.

Davis left the contest, having posted his 25th double-double of the season. His five 40-point games this season are second-most behind Westbrook.

He and coach Alvin Gentry were hoping the hip injury he suffered won't prove to be serious.

"The X-rays were negative," Gentry said. "So, obviously it's going to be sore, but we'll know more tomorrow."

Davis, who said he hit a chair, said he'd have treatment and hoped to be ready for Thursday's game against the Nets in Brooklyn.

In Minneapolis, Karl-Anthony Towns poured in 34 points and pulled down 11 rebounds in the Timberwolves 101-92 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

Andrew Wiggins scored 13 points and Ricky Rubio added 13 and 15 assists for the Timberwolves, who snapped a four-game losing streak in a battle of Western Conference stragglers.

bb/mdl

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Thunder one win from Finals after Game 4 blowout

The Oklahoma City Thunder moved within one victory of the NBA Finals after beating the Golden State Warriors 118-94 in Game Four on Tuesday.

Russell Westbrook collected 36 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds as Oklahoma City grabbed a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference finals, thanks in large part to Westbrook's first triple-double of the postseason.

Defending champions Golden State will attempt to stay alive on Thursday at home in Game 5.

Thunder forward Kevin Durant scored 26 points on 8-of-24 shooting to go with 11 rebounds. Serge Ibaka and Andre Roberson each scored 17 points, while Steven Adams posted 11 points and seven boards.

Klay Thompson led the Warriors with 26 points. League MVP Stephen Curry was held to 19 points on 6-of-20 shooting, and he and Thompson combined to make just six of 21 3-point attempts. Harrison Barnes posted 11 points in the loss.

The Warriors lost back-to-back games for the first time in the postseason after never losing consecutive games in the regular season during their record-setting, 73-win campaign. They fell by a combined 52 points over the two games in Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Durant came out of the blocks on the attack. Instead of settling for jump shots and 3-pointers, he started the night driving the ball to the rim and forcing the Warriors to foul him.

Durant and Westbrook were a combined 12-for-12 from the line in the first half. As a team, the Warriors only attempted 17 free throws in the opening two quarters.

The Warriors, who fell behind by 14, got back into the game without their superstars leading the way. It was the play of Barnes and Festus Ezeli that helped Golden State close the gap to two midway through the second quarter.

However, the Thunder kept pounding the boards and winning the hustle points. That included Adams getting to a loose ball outside the 3-point arc and firing a fastball pass to Roberson under the goal for a layup.

The play was indicative of the type of night Oklahoma City was having as the Thunder raced out to a 72-53 halftime advantage.

The 19-point lead did not last long as Thompson began to tear apart the Thunder defense. After scoring just four points in the first half, he broke loose for 19 points in the third quarter and helped slice the lead down to seven.

Once again, though, Oklahoma City ended the quarter strong to take 12-point advantage. That would be as close as Golden State would get.

For the second game in a row, the Thunder did not let up and went for the kill in the fourth. The Warriors had no answer and pulled their starters with 3:15 left.

(Editing by Peter Rutherford)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Warriors' Green escapes ban, is fined for flagrant foul 2

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green escaped a possible one-game suspension on Monday when he was fined by the National Basketball Association for a flagrant foul that was upgraded from category 1 to 2.

Green faced the chance of being banned for Tuesday's Game Four of the Western Conference Finals against Oklahoma City after he had kicked Thunder center Steven Adams in the groin during Sunday's Game Three.

However, the league instead decided to fine Green $25,000 after reviewing the play and upgrading his foul.

"After a thorough investigation that included review of all available video angles and interviews with the players involved and the officials working the game, we have determined that Green's foul was unnecessary and excessive and warranted the upgrade and fine," Kiki VanDeWeghe, the NBA's executive vice president of basketball operations, said in a statement.

"During a game, players - at times - flail their legs in an attempt to draw a foul, but Green's actions in this case warranted an additional penalty."

The incident occurred with 5:57 left in the second quarter of the Thunder's 133-105 win over the defending NBA champion Warriors in Oklahoma City that put them 2-1 ahead in the best-of-seven series.

"The way I look it, it looks intentional to me," Thunder guard Russell Westbrook told reporters about Green's play after the game.

However, Warriors coach Steve Kerr described the play as "inadvertent", saying: "I was shocked they even looked at it. There is inadvertent contact all the time on plays.

"So that really surprised. I would think they would rescind it. This stuff happens all the time."

(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Larry Fine)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Warriors worrying over Green after groin kick fells Adams

Draymond Green helped motivate Golden State to a record-breaking 73-game winning season but the struggling Warriors will be hoping their emotional forward can avoid suspension after he picked up a flagrant foul on Sunday.

Green kicked Oklahoma City's Steven Adams in the groin while attempting a shot in the second quarter of the 133-105 Western Conference finals Game Three loss as the defending NBA champions fell 2-1 behind to the Thunder in the best-of-seven series.

The painful kick left Adams doubled over on the floor and earned the flagrant call after officials looked at the instant replay. The NBA will now be expected to examine the play and determine whether it merits a ban for the All-Star Green.

The timing of the incident is ominous for the Warriors, coming on the same day the league suspended Cleveland guard Dahntay Jones for one game after he struck a Toronto player in their Eastern Conference finals showdown on Saturday.

"I don't think I'll get suspended," Green told reporters following the disastrous blowout loss in Oklahoma City.

"I followed through on the shot and my leg went up. I'm not trying to kick someone in the mid-section. I'm sure he wants to have kids one day I'm not trying to end that on the basketball court. I'm not sure how anyone can say I did that on purpose."

Green and Adams have engaged in a testy sequence of exchanges during this series and the Golden State forward also kneed the New Zealander in the groin during Game Two, prompting the Thunder center to say his opponent had "peaked with annoyingness" following the contest.

"I mean, it happened before. He's pretty accurate, that guy," Adams added.

NO INTENT

Green's combustible nature leaves him always close to boiling point and the 26-year-old is certainly playing on the edge this post-season.

He has four technical fouls in the playoffs, three shy of earning a suspension, along with two flagrant fouls. Two more flagrant-one calls against him, or a single flagrant-two ejection would also force him to sit out one game.

His reputation could factor into the NBA's review of his most recent misdemeanour.

"I would hope not," Warriors team mate Stephen Curry said when asked whether he felt Green would be sanctioned. "There was no intent in watching the replay. That's clear."

Green's performance with the ball against the Thunder is a more pressing concern for the Warriors, however. He finished 1-for-9 with just six points on Sunday as Golden State were completely outplayed.

The previous time Green had set foot on the Oklahoma City court, back in February, he missed all eight of his field goal attempts and became so frustrated that he had a shouting match with coach Steve Kerr at halftime.

Kerr defended him then and repeated the mantra on Sunday.

"Honestly, stuff like that happens all the time," Kerr said. "There's inadvertent contact on all plays. It's just part of the game."

(Editing by John O'Brien; Editing by John O'Brien)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com