Tag: Oklahoma City

KD’s big game pace S&Ds, keeps OKC in step with Spurs

With basketball legend Oscar Robertson watching from courtside Friday night in Sacramento, Kevin Durant was suitably inspired for a big game.

In 1961-62, Robertson notched 41 triple-doubles during an entire season and showed players like Durant something about versatility.

Durant came close Friday night with 29 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists in the Thunder’s 103-92 victory over the Kings, keeping them one-half game from the Spurs for the best record  in the Western Conference.

”I’ve been flirting all season with it but I haven’t been able to seal the deal yet,” Durant told the Associated Press about his near triple-double. ”Hopefully I will get one before my career is over. Oscar Robertson is a legend, someone I really look up to. It was a joy playing in front of him tonight.” 

Thunder coach Scott Brooks raved about Durant’s importance to the team after the game.

”We all know that Kevin can score,” Brooks told the AP. ”But he has to continue making his teammates better. He definitely did that tonight with seven assists. He’s a very unselfish basketball player.”

In the process, Durant led Friday’s Studs and Duds of the top performers across the association.

STUDS

Oklahoma City F Kevin Durant: Filled the stat sheet for 29 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists and was plus-13 in the Thunder’s victory at Sacramento.

Atlanta G Joe Johnson: Tallied 30 points, five rebounds, six assists, two steals and was a game-high plus-15 in the Hawks’ triumph over the Celtics.

San Antonio F Tim Duncan: Went for 21 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals, two blocks and was a game-high plus-26 in the Spurs’ convincing victory over the Lakers.

Charlotte G Gerald Henderson: Produced 32 points, three rebounds, four assists and two steals in the Bobcats’ loss to Memphis.

Boston G Avery Bradley: Notched 28 points, three assists and four steals in the Celtics’ loss at the Hawks.

DUDS

Charlotte G Kemba Walker: Clanked through a 5-for-15 shooting night with seven turnovers in the Bobcats’ loss to Memphis, their 19th consecutive loss.

Memphis G Tony Allen: Missed all three shots, had four turnovers and was minus-6 in the Grizzlies’ victory at Charlotte.

Atlanta G Tracy McGrady: Missed both shots, had five turnovers  and was minus-1 in the Hawks’ victory over Boston.

Memphis F Marreese Speights: Went 2 for 8 from the field with three turnovers in the Grizzlies’  victory at Charlotte.

New York F Carmelo Anthony: Struggled through a 5-for-13 shooting effort with four turnovers and was minus-11 in the Knicks’ loss at Charlotte.

Rondo’s uneven triple-double paces studs and duds

It wasn’t the most artistic of triple-doubles. 

But Rajon Rondo won’t trade the final results of Boston’s grinding 88-86 overtime victory over Atlanta Wednesday night.

Rondo notched his sixth triple-double of the season with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 20 assists to match the NBA high for the season.

The Celtics’ victory came only a day after an emotional victory at Miami. The residue of that game could be seen in some of the Celtics’ struggles.

”I gotta tell you guys: that was the worst game we’ve ever won,” Boston coach Doc Rivers told the Associated Press. ”I mean we didn’t play well. We just kept hanging in there. You could see the fatigue.”

One of the most notable was Rondo, despite the triple-double. The Boston point guard clanked through a miserable 3-for-16 shooting night with six turnovers.

But he had enough at the end to fill the stat sheet and notch his 19th consecutive double-figure game in assists.

”We kept fighting regardless of the other stuff out there. We stuck together, followed through and got the win,” said Rondo about his performance. It earned him a place as a stud and a dud on the same night.  

STUDS

Boston G Rajon Rondo: Notched his sixth triple-double of the season, going for 10 points, 10 rebounds and 20 assists to match the NBA high for the season. Rondo was plus-6 in the Celtics victory over Atlanta.

Los Angeles Lakers C Andrew Bynum: Went for 16 points, an NBA season-high 30 rebounds, two assists, two blocks and was plus-5 in the Lakers’ victory at the Spurs.

Memphis G Rudy Gay: Notched a season-best 32 points, seven rebounds, two steals and was a game-best plus-23 in the Grizzlies’ victory over Phoenix.

Los Angeles Clippers G Chris Paul: Produced 31 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and was plus-4 in the Clippers’ triumph at Oklahoma City.

Milwaukee G Monta Ellis: Erupted for 35 points, six rebounds, 10 assists and four steals in the Bucks’ loss at New York.

DUDS

Boston G Rajon Rondo: Despite the triple-double, Rondo struggled through a miserable 3-for-16 shooting night with six turnovers in the Celtics overtime victory over Atlanta.

Phoenix G Steve Nash: Went 4 of 10 from the field, had an NBA nightly high of seven turnovers and was a game-worst minus-21 in the Suns’ loss to Memphis.  

San Antonio G Tony Parker: Clanked through a 2-for-12 shooting night with only four points and was a game-worst minus-16 in the Spurs’ loss to the Lakers.

Sacramento C DeMarcus Cousins: Went 3-for-12 from the field with four turnovers and was minus-8 in the Kings’ loss at New Orleans.

Oklahoma City G Russell Westbrook: Struggled through a 3-for-14 shooting night with four turnovers in the Thunder’s loss to the Clippers.

Kobe bounces back by hanging 40 on Golden State

After enduring one of the worst games in his career a day earlier, Kobe Bryant was determined not to endure an encore on Sunday. 

Bryant blistered Golden State for 40 points to lead the Lakers’ 120-112 victory over Golden State.

In his previous game Saturday afternoon against New Orleans, Bryant missed his first 15 shots and was shut out through three quarters before breaking out in the final quarter.

“It’s always interesting to me to hear people talk after a game like that,” Bryant told the Associated Press. “The amount of idiots that live out here after 16 years baffle me. I guess people just get dumber over the years.”

It was Bryant’s 112th career game with at least 40 points as he topped the Studs for Sunday’s game. The Lakers pulled 1½ games ahead of the Los Angeles Clippers for third place in the Western Conference.  

STUDS

Los Angeles Lakers G Kobe Bryant: Slump? What slump? Bryant erupted for 40 points, five assists, three rebounds and was plus-13 in the Lakers’ victory over Golden State.

Oklahoma City G Russell Westbrook: Went for 27 points, five assists, four steals, three rebounds and was plus-28 in the Thunder’s victory over Chicago.

Los Angeles Lakers F Pau Gasol: Filled the stat sheet for 26 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and three blocks in the Lakers’ victory over Golden State.

Boston G Rajon Rondo: Notched his fifth triple-double this season with 16 points, 11 rebounds, 14 assists and shared game honors with plus-28 in the Celtics’ victory over Miami.

Indiana G Danny Granger: Erupted for 32 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks in the Pacers’ overtime triumph at Houston.

DUDS

Miami F Chris Bosh: Clanked through a 2-for-11 shooting effort with three turnovers and was minus-13 in the Heat’s loss at Boston.

Phoenix F Hakim Warrick: Missed all three shots with two turnovers and was minus-3 in the Suns’ victory over New Orleans.

Denver C JaVale McGee: Went 1 for 3 from the field with five turnovers and was a game-worst minus-19 in the Nuggets’ triumph over Orlando.

Toronto G DeMar DeRozan: Struggled through a 4-for-11 shooting night with four turnovers in the Raptors’ victory over Washington.

Chicago C Joakim Noah: Clanked through a 1-for-8 shooting effort and was minus-21 in the Bulls’ loss at Oklahoma City.