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Thunder falls short vs Fred VanVleet, Rockets in road trip finale

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1 month ago

December 4, 2024

Thunder falls short vs Fred VanVleet, Rockets in road trip finale

Amid our bodies scrambling, dashing to kind a scrum of hostility and aggressive fireplace, there was laughter.

Shoved away from the tie-up that set issues off, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander chuckled within the face of Dillon Brooks, nodding as he embraced what he’d began. Brooks, in Brooks style, maniacally cackled again at him.

Earlier than the groups met in a ball of fury with 50.5 seconds remaining within the Thunder’s 119-116 loss in Houston Sunday night time, the 2 Canadians wrapped themselves across the ball, a determined possession turned bounce ball.

Neither let go. Whistles furiously blew. SGA was activated. Brooks was in his mode. Their encounter stoked the flames of a tug-of-war, with each amused on the aftermath.

This was the battle of the most effective within the West, the highest two seeds coming into the sport, and it introduced the most effective out of each events.

From Gilgeous-Alexander, who led his No. 1 seeded Thunder into Houston to shut a 3-1 highway journey, Sunday extracted game-changing buckets. He completed with 32 factors, eight rebounds and 5 assists. Towards a Rockets protection that’s solely rated behind OKC among the many finest within the NBA, SGA headbutted blitz after blitz, double staff after one other.

Extra:Isaiah Hartenstein credit ‘team-focused’ stars for his seamless match on OKC Thunder roster

His insertion late within the first half turned an 11-point Houston lead right into a one-possession sport by halftime. His 15-point third quarter stored OKC forward.

However for as soon as, his arms would not be those placing the ending touches on the sport.

From Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, Sunday commanded breathtaking shotmaking. A sport not like any OKC has defended in opposition to from a guard this season. He posted 38 factors on 19 pictures. His audacity stood taller than him, drilling a 33-foot 3-pointer with lower than two minutes left.

His free throws sealed the Thunder’s destiny.

From Brooks, Sunday required him to be the pest he’s employed to be. To make it unattainable to inbound the ball to Gilgeous-Alexander at any time when he may. To pop off for a 10-point first quarter and set the tone. To rile his teammates up simply earlier than a wild end.

Earlier than VanVleet was tasked with closing the sport on the free-throw line, Brooks cashed in a 12-foot jumper whereas Houston’s shot clock dwindled, a go-ahead basket mere seconds after it appeared Rockets heart Alperen Sengun would flip the ball over.

If Sunday was a cage match, Brooks entered the ring in time to fling the Thunder over its head with a metallic chair.

From the Thunder, Sunday begged for the fourth-quarter shotmaking to purchase some respiration room. To duplicate the grasp it’s had in late-game eventualities. Even down simply three with 26 seconds to play, OKC waited as Houston shaved off almost 22 valuable seconds earlier than being fouled.

“In a perfect world, we’d’ve preferred to foul earlier,” coach Mark Daigneault stated. “Thought we had a pair alternatives to do it. However these are robust ones, as a result of the blokes are type of on their very own in that scenario.”

The 2 groups mixed for 62 free throws (39 from the Rockets, 25 awarded to OKC). They earned 102 factors within the paint. They produced roughly 132 elbows. There was an insurmountable variety of profanity tossed on the officiating crew. There was one pointless dive and restoration from Isaiah Hartenstein.

However nothing actually proved pointless in a blow-for-blow sport that by no means drifted past an 11-point lead. Not even Brooks’ animated bind with Gilgeous-Alexander.

As a result of Brooks, fairly actually, obtained the final snigger.

Extra:OKC Thunder schedule: Dates, occasions, TV channels for 2024-25 NBA season

Jalen Williams to Isaiah Hartenstein is actual — and much from full

Alperen Sengun had primarily been hunted, picked on inside seconds of Sunday’s sport.

Williams probed, Sengun backpedaled and Hartenstein soared behind him for the best alley-oop connection they’ve shared but.

In Chet Holmgren’s absence, Williams and Hartenstein have develop into effectively acquainted. The place Holmgren as soon as prolonged for alley-oops, Hartenstein now skies. Williams is blissful to oblige, probing till he finds a gap for the large fella.

On Sunday, they linked as many as 3 times.

“We’re in conditions the place we’re even over-screening simply attempting to determine it out with one another,” Williams stated of Hartenstein. “When you may have a wise screener that is keen to display, it makes it fairly simple after which he does a very good job of speaking once we’re in timeouts and even within the sport on what he is seeing.”

“We each belief one another, so I belief what he sees and he trusts me to make the play. There’s a variety of room to develop, too.”

Hartenstein is a straightforward goal. When the Thunder’s drives are minimize brief, the 7-foot heart is lurking close by, awaiting his drop-off in time for his signature push shot. When an enormous can’t decide to both Williams or Hartenstein, the previous forces their hand.

Hartenstein revives performs that appear useless. He completes those left within the steadiness.

Sunday’s 19 factors and 13 rebounds marked Hartenstein’s fifth straight double-double, the primary Thunder participant to take action since (ding ding ding) Russell Westbrook. Hartenstein is the primary participant in Thunder historical past to start their tenure with the franchise with 5 double-doubles.

Williams completed with 22 factors on 7-for-21 taking pictures. His finest moments on Sunday? When he affirmed one other wrinkle to worry with Hartenstein’s addition.

Extra:For OKC Thunder, the wins and accidents maintain mounting, however it’s ‘subsequent subsequent man up’

Cason Wallace’s crucial assertion sport

As Cason Wallace sprawled out on the bottom, Williams screamed simply above the place he stood.

It doesn’t take a lot for Williams to let loose a screech. However Wallace had made one more play to maintain the Thunder alive Sunday, a rebound he had no enterprise snagging — much like a lot of the others.

Wallace ended with 14 factors (5 for 11), 9 rebounds (5 offensive), and three 3s, two of which got here within the last 3:18.

He’s gotten off to an unrecognizable begin this season, all the way down to 25.9% taking pictures from deep this 12 months after taking pictures 41.9% as a rookie. Wallace’s constant taking pictures and protection was a part of the best way OKC caught groups abruptly then. So far, Wallace had been lacking a variable — particularly important with all of the our bodies the Thunder is lacking.

However Sunday marked what appeared like Wallace’s rejuvenation. He was unattainable to disregard even when the jumper wasn’t falling, ripping rebounds from 6-foot-10 Jabari Smith Jr.’s grasp. His protection has hardly wavered.

It simply so occurred that his bounce shot caught up, as well timed because it’s been all season. VanVleet simply occurred to rain on his parade 33 ft from the rim.