Kevin Durant Drops 41 Points Tying Career Playoff High To Give Thunder 3-0 Series Lead.
For the first time ever in the franchise history of the OKC Thunder, they would play their first game without franchise point guard Russell Westbrook. During game 2, Westbrook would suffer a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee forcing him to miss the rest of the 2013 playoffs. He underwent successful surgery on Saturday afternoon just in time to watch his team from the hospital bed.
Durant, who publicly came out last week saying he was tired of being number two in the league to LeBron James (who’s won the 4 MVP’s in 5 years); now had his chance with the Thunder in need of some major scoring, which he would indeed provide.
Kevin Durant came out leaving an imprint on the game in the first quarter scoring the most points in NBA playoff history at 17; and would finish with 26 before the first half’s end. Harden would only score 7 in the 1st, dealing with a severe thigh injury that lingered his play the game (and series). Skipping to the next quarter, by the 9 minute mark, Oklahoma City held their biggest game of the lead at 26 points.
The score was at 48-22 and air had filled the Toyota Center in Houston, with the home faithful ready to throw in the towel prematurely. The Rockets would cut the lead to 17 before the half; but the Thunder had scored a whopping 66 points before the third quarter.
OS REWIND: Russell Westbrook Out Indefinitely With Torn Meniscus, Expected To Miss 2013 Playoffs
In the 2nd half, the Rockets would star their run, decreasing the lead 4 with James Harden closing out the quarter with a deep three pointer. Kevin Durant would only score 2 points in the entire quarter which would be a dunk with 30 seconds left. To say Westbrook’s presence wasn’t missed during this game would be an understatement. Houston was definitely onto something in the game heading into the 4th quarter down by single-digits.
During the final quarter, Carlos Delfino would provide a huge scoring relief for James Harden who was still visibly dealing with an injury. Harden missed 4 key three throws during the fourth quarter, which would come back to haunt them in the end of the game losing by 3. Kevin Durant tied a career playoff high with 41 points; and would put the finishing touches on game 3 with a long-range bomb, regaining the lead for the Thunder. The Rockets had regained the lead for the first time since the opening seconds of the first quarter, but Durant’s 3 was the nail in the coffin.
No NBA team in the league’s history has ever erased a 0-3 deficit in the playoffs. The Rockets now host the Thunder once more Monday evening in the night cap of a 3 game night at 9:30pm ET. Oklahoma City is paying close attention to the Grizzlies-Clippers series, which is currently tied heading back to Los Angeles on Tuesday for game 5. With Westbrook out and San Antonio trying to remain healthy, the West is now anyone’s game.
Win or Go HOME!