Thunder hits on all cylinders in win over Sacramento Kings
BY DARNELL MAYBERRY
Comments 
57
Published: October 29, 2009
This, Thunder fans, is what your team looks like when everything clicks.
Dogged defense leads to trouble-free offense. Spacing and ball movement result in uncontested shots. Energy and hustle end in a blowout.
Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant, right, drives the ball past the Kings’ Omri Casspi during Wednesday’s game at the Ford Center. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
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Opening night at the
Ford Center couldn’t have gone more smoothly in the Thunder’s 102-89 rout of
Sacramento on Wednesday night.
When it mattered for the first time, the Thunder played like the team the outside world assumes it is — one of the fastest rising teams in the
NBA and a bunch that could surprise the rest of the league with an improbable push to the postseason.
Oklahoma City never trailed against the Kings and led by as many as 23 points. Roles were played to near perfection, particularly by the starters:
Russell Westbrook,
Thabo Sefolosha,
Kevin Durant,
Jeff Green and
Nenad Krstic.
The first five set the tone from the opening tip and ultimately combined for two more points than the entire Kings team.
Westbrook displayed the same confidence and control he exhibited throughout the preseason, finishing with 14 points, a career-high 13 assists and seven rebounds against just two turnovers.
Durant looked more like the leader he’s promised to be in his third season and poured in 25 points, with 11 rebounds and four assists.
Green showed off a rapidly improving shooting touch and a valuable ability to abuse bigger, slower defenders. He made four of five 3-pointers on his way to 24 points and eight rebounds.
And Krstic and Sefolosha were their usual steady selves, Krstic taking advantage of Westbrook’s playmaking to the tune of 20 points and Sefolosha being the bulldog defender he’s established himself as.
Collectively, they gave a preview of the potential the unit possesses. The Thunder only started Wednesday’s lineup 16 times last season because Krstic and Sefolosha were acquired in mid-season and injuries to Durant prevented seven more opportunities.
They went just 3-13 as a unit that spent last season searching for its rhythm. But the pieces looked much more comfortable Wednesday.
"Training camp and the preseason helped us out,” Durant said. "And just getting that bond, getting to know where guys need the ball on the floor. Guys like Thabo and Nenad have been great additions to our team. They came a little later, but we’ve been working hard and hopefully it starts to show.”
With Brooks playing just nine players, and Green and Durant receiving more than 39 minutes apiece, the Thunder needed a big game from its starting unit. They responded by out-rebounding a taller and perhaps more athletic frontline with a team effort. All five starters had five or more rebounds.
Their hustle is what stood out most. Six days after this same Kings team blew out the Thunder by 15 in its preseason finale, the Thunder made sure to give better effort Wednesday.
A third-quarter play by Russell Westbrook defined the intensity on the night. After a turnover on a inbounds pass led to a one-man breakaway for Kings rookie guard
Tyreke Evans, Westbrook sprinted back and contested the dunk but fouled Evans from behind.
The Thunder was ahead 20 at that point.
"It feels good,” Green said. "Getting that first win, especially at home for the fans, it feels real good.”
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matt, scottsdale
"Is Berry Tramel on drugs or is he just an OKC native?"----He's just an okaysee native, most native okies all pretty much look the same, can't tell them apart....
You guys are idiots.
Not to play "Debbie downer", but this is like saying, "This, Sooner fans, is what your team looks like when everything clicks."... right after beating Idaho St. As a Kings fan, I know that they might, MIGHT be the worst team in the NBA. Don't get too excited yet. The Thunder have improved, but this should've been a very easy win for them.
A nice start.
El Prez
Hope Mullens, Weaver, White, and Varden/Vaden(?) will pan out, if not, we might regret not trying to trade some combo of these and getting Casspi or Budinger.
Yeah, let's get excited.
As far as points by quarter are concerned, the fanatics will try and convince you that they slowed down as the game wore on to "save themselves" or some such BS.
I don't see any mention of the Ford NOT being sold out (once again), more than likely the excuse will be because of who they played instead of the real reason.
And Michael I agree. The food service stunk tonight. But it was opening night. And it was most likely some of the servers first time in what can be a heck tick environment. GO SERVERS!!! LOL