SAN ANTONIO - As families and friends gathered around living rooms across the country and the world on Christmas Day, they had the chance to watch an exhilarating matchup between two of the best teams in the Western Conference.
In a back-and-forth contest that was a game of runs and high level team basketball, the Thunder took control in the fourth quarter and defeated the San Antonio Spurs 114-106. The Spurs made a 15-3 run to end the third quarter, but Head Coach Scott Brooks got a nice response from his squad as it made a quick 6-2 run to start the fourth.
The Spurs then responded with seven straight points before the Thunder hits right back with a 13-0 run, which was a stunning blow. Down the stretch, the mix of Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, Steven Adams and Anthony Morrow kept the scoreboard moving. It was Reggie Jackson, however, who made a huge bucket after the Spurs cut it to 108-104, and then Adams added two free throws to seal the victory.
Down the stretch, the Thunder’s offensive execution was sharp, but it was more about the way the team defended as a unit. With five physical, long and athletic players on the floor, the Thunder could switch nearly every screen and then get out to force and contest difficult jump shots.
“We did a good job defensively,” Brooks said. “They’re a very difficult team to guard because they have so many skilled basketball players. They make the extra pass and make you defend for 24 seconds. We did a great job of challenging every shot and they still made some of them.”
“(Switching on defense) has a big impact, especially when we lock in defensively,” Westbrook said. “We do a great job of being physical, using our length and our athleticism.”
The Thunder had nice balance on offense as five players scored in double figures, including 21 points for Ibaka, 16 for Adams, 15 for Morrow and 14 for Perry Jones. The catalyst for it all, however, was Westbrook. With his tenacity, speed and strength, Westbrook controlled the game and filled up the stat sheet with 34 points, 11 assists, five rebounds and five steals.
“He has the ability to fill up the stat sheet with rebounds, assists, blocks and great hustle plays,” Brooks said. “He’s a force. He puts a lot of pressure on the defense.”
“You just have to rally behind him,” Morrow said of Westbrook. “He’s a leader, natural born. He comes out there and plays hard.”
Excellent ATO Play a key Moment
An ATO stands for an After Timeout Play, and they are crucial to late game execution. The Thunder had a perfect opportunity to complete one coming out of a timeout late in this game. With 2:34 left, the Spurs had pulled within 102-98 and Brooks drew up a play. Westbrook drove right around a screen from Adams at the elbow, passed to Ibaka in the corner, who then swung the ball to Morrow on the wing for a wide-open three-pointer.
“We wanted to make sure that we came out with great offensive energy on our cuts,” Brooks explained. “We can’t discount any part of it. Our guys did a good job in that fourth quarter.”
“I was very happy,” Westbrook said. “Once I was getting into the paint they were collapsing really quickly. My job is to be able to read it, kick out and make sure my teammates make the best play. We did a good job of that.”
That play was a product of excellent strategy and execution. The Thunder coaching staff recognized that Westbrook’s repeated attacks to the lane and the rim had taken their toll on the Spurs’ defense. As a result, San Antonio would collapse the paint and force a kick-out, which is exactly what happened. Morrow was there to finish it off and give the Thunder an extra bit of cushion.
“It felt great when it went in,” Morrow said. “Russ and Reggie’s penetration, their aggressiveness opened it up. Serge made a great extra pass. That’s something we talk about every day – making sure we get on that weak side, we interchange and make sure we cause some confusion. It opens the nail up for Reggie and Russ to penetrate.”
Offensive Rebounding a Factor
The Thunder got a lot of great looks at the rim throughout the night, and even though some rimmed it, Brooks’ squad gave itself a chance to get even more offensive opportunities. By crashing the offensive glass all night, and particularly in the first half, the Thunder racked up 13 second chance points off of 16 offensive rebounds.
Steven Adams and Andre Roberson were the catalysts on that end of the floor, as the duo combined to snare 11 offensive rebounds combined. Adams’ physicality and Roberson’s knack for finding the ball and hustle contributed to their ability to get new possessions.
“We like to use our size,” Brooks said. “Steven (Adams) was terrific all game long on both ends of the floor. He gave us great energy and great presence on the defensive end. He rebounded the ball well. We have to keep building him.”
Adams in particular was the force for the Thunder in the paint. He scored efficiently, rebounded the ball, tipped loose balls and more importantly, defended Tim Duncan expertly on the block, even swatting three shots.
“He was being physical,” Westbrook said of Adams. “He’s been doing a great job of being smart. He’s doing a great job of finishing around the basket. As you can see he has great touch. Today I was proud of him.”
“He had a great game,” Morrow said of Adams. “It’s about him continuing to stay comfortable. The way he rebounded the ball was tremendous for us tonight. Defensively he did a great job. He really was a huge key in us winning this game tonight.”
Stats of the Night
15 - Rebounds for Steven Adams breaking his career-high, including seven on the offensive end
21 – Points for Serge Ibaka on 8-for-15 shooting, including 3-for-4 from the three-point line, in addition to nine rebounds
25 – Assists for the Thunder on the night, including 11 by Russell Westbrook and nine combined for Reggie Jackson and Ish Smith
The Final Word
“We executed. We were patient and made the extra pass ourselves. We learned from our last game – be patient, get to our spots, make the extra pass and shoot with confidence.” – Head Coach Scott Brooks