Thunder Snaps Clippers Streak; Love Returns to T-Wolves
In Wednesday night NBA action, The Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Clippers went to overtime before the Thunder snapped L.A’s six game winning streak 117-111. Kevin Durant scored 35 points for the Thunder while Russell Westbrook added 23 points. The Thunder is now 9-3 on the season and has won three straight and eight of nine. The Clippers were led by Blake Griffin with 23 points and Jamal Crawford with 20 points.
The Clippers loss was further proof however that they are a contender in the Western Conference. The team is on its first extended road trip of the season and so far have beaten the San Antonio Spurs and taken the defending conference champs to overtime. The Clippers trailed throughout the game but tied it at 102 with 36 seconds left on a Matt Barnes bucket. Chris Paul had a chance to win it at the buzzer but missed a jumper as time expired.
The Thunder held the lead throughout the overtime period. Westbrook and Durant hit three-pointers from nearly the same spot on the floor to open the overtime and give the Thunder a four point lead. The Clippers were unable to catch back up. Kevin Martin also had 20 points in the game for Oklahoma City and Serge Ibaka added 15.
It was good news-bad news for the Minnesota Timberwolves. The good news is the Kevin Love is back. The bad news is the T-wolves lost 101-94 to the Denver Nuggets despite Love’s 34 point and 14 rebound season debut. Danilo Galinari led the Nuggets with 19 points and Andre Iguodala added 18.
The Wolves tried their best to keep Love’s return under wraps after he returned to practice this week. The crowd at Target Center was pleasantly surprised when Love was introduced in the starting lineup. They were even more pleasantly surprised then he scored 16 points in the first quarter. The Wolves built a 17 point first half lead, but the rest of the team seemed to take the night off to watch Love in the second half. The second highest scorer for the Wolves was J.J. Barea with 12 points.
In other action around the league, it was the Cleveland Cavaliers over the Philadelphia 76ers 92-83. Jeremy Pargo had a career high 28 points for the Cavs. He was filling in for the injured Kyrie Irving.
The Indiana Pacers beat the New Orleans Hornets 115-107. Paul George had nine three pointers, all after halftime in the overtime win. He finished with 37 points.
The Orlando Magic beat the Detroit Pistons 90-74. Rookie Andre Nicholson led the Magic with 15 points and Glen Davis had 11 points and 14 rebounds. Detroit led at he half 48-45 but went on a 10 minute scoring drought to start the second half. They shot 8 of 44 in the second half.
The Charlotte Bobcats won their sixth game of the season, only one fewer than they won last season already, with a 98-97 win over the Toronto Raptors. Charlotte is now 6-4 on the season. Kemba Walker led the Cats with 19 points and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Ramone Sessions added 14 each.
