Thunder 122 – Kings 118 | Rapid Recap

The Thunder GuysJanuary 16, 2017 No Comments

The Thunder bounced back in a big way tonight against the Sacramento Kings with a 122-118 win. Oklahoma City started off the game playing from behind, but finished the first quarter on an impressive run that gave them the slight edge heading into the second. Although the Thunder were playing a bit sloppy throughout the first half, they managed to stay in control of the scoreboard.

The Kings went on a bit of a run to start the third quarter, which cut the Thunder’s lead to single digits. DeMarcus Cousins, who nearly had a triple-double tonight, did just about all he could to keep Sacramento in the game. Just when it seemed like the Thunder were going to close this one out, Cousins had other plans. He put the Kings in a position to win the game in the end, but Oklahoma City responded well and finished with a statement.

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Russell Westbrook Sets Himself Apart

Russell Westbrook recorded his 20th triple-double of the season with 36 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. This accomplishment sets him apart from the rest of the names on the single season triple-double list, but most importantly he did it in a game where it was absolutely necessary. The Thunder needed a big night from Westbrook to win this one, and he did just that by finishing the game with a steal and a basket to put the score out of reach.

Steven Adams Leaves Game Early

Steven Adams had to leave the game after hitting his head on the court early in the third quarter. Nothing official has been released on Adams yet, but we do know he left the game because of concussion protocol. The injury doesn’t seem too serious, but it could still keep Adams out for a couple of games until he can pass the NBA concussion protocol. This would be a huge loss for the Thunder, especially with two very big games coming up against the Clippers and the Warriors.

Enes Kanter Dominates

Enes Kanter stepped up and had a huge second half in the absence of his fellow Stache Bro. The Kings were already having fairly decent success in the paint, and it seemed as if their success would only increase without Adams in the game. However, Kanter stepped up both offensively and defensively. The big man from Turkey certainly showed his value as he finished the night with 29 points and 12 rebounds on 10-18 shooting.

Kanter has proven throughout his tenure with Oklahoma City that he can light up the scoreboard, but his defense has always been the questionable part of his game. He has shown moments of excellence on defense, but has definitely lacked consistency. The Thunder will definitely need Kanter to play well on both sides of the court in the upcoming games of this road trip.

Up Next

The Thunder will be in action again tomorrow night against the Clippers in LA. This game will be a huge test for this team, as they will be playing on the road during the second night of a back to back, and a win in that fashion would prove the Thunder can play with anyone. The game will start at 9:30 PM CST and will be televised on TNT. It will also be broadcast on the radio at WWLS 98.1 FM.

Article written by Craig Hofeld. Follow @TheThunderGuys on Twitter and Instagram. 

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