THUNDER STRUCK
Westbrook and George too much for defenceless Raptors
OKLAHOMA CITY — A sure sign of impending doom is when a team allows its opponent to score in excess of 100 points.
It’s somewhat manageable when it’s the final total, problematic when the 100point barrier is reached after three quarters.
When the league’s reigning MVP is able to do whatever he wants and get to whatever spot on the floor he desires, the task gets more daunting.
It gets desperate to the point of despair when Russell Westbrook is getting help.
There was fight with the Raptors, resiliency when trailing and suddenly leading by double figures, fleeting as it was, but Toronto couldn’t sustain its level of play.
Too many second-chance points surrendered, too little production by the team’s three primary scorers, Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan and Serge Ibaka, far too little defence and one long night as Toronto dropped its second straight on the road, this one a 124-107 decision to the red-hot Thunder, winners of six in a row.
The lightning-quick Westbrook wouldn’t be denied, but Paul George also was able to go off on offence.
The two combined to score 63 points led by George’s game-high 33.
OKC played with a lot of energy and took advantage of Toronto’s poor start to the game and equally poor start when the second half began.
By the fourth quarter, the Thunder was toying with Toronto, leading by as many as 21 points.
The only drama was Westbrook’s pursuit of a triple double, which fell two rebounds short.
The one good news for the Raptors was C.J. Miles and how fearless he was in heaving shots.
Jacob Poeltl also did a nice job coming off the bench.
Everything Dwane Casey wanted from the team to begin the game didn’t materialize, Toronto yielding too many open looks, providing little resistance on dribble penetration, falling behind by 12 points. It was ugly, eerily familiar to the way the Raptors came out a night earlier in Dallas.
The Thunder jumped out to a 10-2, forcing Casey to call a timeout.
OKC made five of its first six shots, its only miss retrieved and converted into second-chance points when the Raptors couldn’t defend the boards.
OKC’s lead would extend to 12 points following backto-back breakaway baskets.
During his pre-game availability, Casey spoke of the disconnect defensively when the Mavs scored 31 first-quarter points.
Not much changed, but Toronto’s compete level was much greater.
You almost expect the home side to punch first, which is precisely what the Thunder did, but Toronto did regroup, its second group stepping up.
Miles led sparked the bench on offence, even showcasing his ability to put the ball on the floor when OKC close out with Miles beyond the arc.
DeRozan had it going, looking far more comfortable than he did in Dallas, where he was held to eight points.
In 12 minutes Wednesday night, he poured in 10 points.
Better defence, superior shotmaking, the Raptors flipped the script on the Thunder, which looked shell-shocked at how quickly Toronto went from push- overs to world beaters.
Miles, fittingly, beat the buzzer to end the first quarter.
Ibaka, who broke into the NBA with the Thunder, was given a warm ovation during the pre-game introduction.
He buried his first look, a three-ball.
Toronto’s second unit played with confidence and force in the second quarter, helping the Raptors build a 12-point lead.
Delon Wright showed off a seldom-seen Euro step before he finished at the rim.
The way the Raptors played was in stark contrast to how they began the game.
A mini-skirmish broke out when Westbrook went strong to the hole.
Jonas Valanciunas’ elbow made contact with Westbrook’s face, accidental it should be noted.
A loose ball ensued and words exchanged when Valanciunas grabbed the ball from Westbrook on a dead ball.
Officials reviewed the sequence and ruled a double technical to Valanciunas and Westbrook, much like the officials did in Dallas when Lowry was involved in a shoving incident.
The game had an edge with the Raptors and Thunder going at each other, competing hard on every possession.
The main combatants were Valanciunas and Steven Adams.