What is your initial reaction to tonight's result?
One of content. There wasn't much surprise involved in the result of this game, though I was surprised at how well the Hornets kept up with the Thunder. The Hornets also had an excellent run early on that scared at least a few Thunder fans.
What was tonight's turning point?
In the third quarter, the Thunder defense came through. Marco Bellinelli lost the ball in the backcourt, tracked it down, and couldn't hit the rim in time to avoid a shot clock violation. On the next possession, Kendrick Perkins blocked Chris Kaman. All of a sudden, the Thunder were up by 4, and their lead extended from there.
What was, overall, the main reason the Thunder lost/won?
Star Power. The Hornets simply had nobody to put on Durant, though they did a decent job of pressuring him. Additionally, Westbrook was really able to make a nice run for himself in the fourth and basically carry the team to a win.
What's the key statistic to understanding tonight's game?
The Hornets' three point Shooting. They went 1-16, which is atrocious no matter how you look at it.
What does this game mean for the Thunder today and moving forward?
It gives the Thunder 10 wins, making them the first team in the NBA to reach that number. It also proved that their young legs can overcome whatever tough stretch the NBA throws at them, as they've won 5 games in the past 6 days. Luckily for them, the rest of the month of January will be much easier.
Thunder Wonder: Kevin Durant, 29 Points, 10 Rebounds, 3 Assists
Thunder Down Under: Russell Westbrook, 22 Points, 2 Rebounds, 7 Assists, 3 Steals
Thunder Blunder: Daequan Cook, for going 1-5 from beyond the arc.
Thunder Plunderer: Chris Kaman, 17 Points, 9 Rebounds, 2 Assists, 2 Blocks
Next Game: Versus the New York Knicks, Saturday, January 7th, 7 PM Central Standard Time
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