Adams key as Thunder roll on
Kiwi centre Steven Adams came up with a crucial bucket as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Charlotte Hornets 104-102 in overtime in the NBA yesterday.
Adams tipped in a miss by point guard Chris Paul to give the Thunder a 103-99 lead with 20 seconds to go.
The Hornets replied with Devonte Graham’s quick three from the top of the key, but OKC held on for their fifth win in the last six games.
Adams said it was a weird play, with Paul missing an open layup, but he was happy to pick up the scraps.
‘‘It’s just one of those things mate, it went in, tipped in, but there was a bunch of other shots I missed too,’’ he said.
‘‘I want to say it’s skill and if you want to give me credit for it that’s OK but it was just more luck.’’
Adams had already provided one highlight in overtime with a delightful dime laid on for Dennis Schroder.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 27 points, while Schroder added 24 off the bench, and Adams chimed in with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Paul finished with 16 points for the Thunder, 10 of those coming in the fourth quarter and overtime.
Terry Rozier scored 26 points and Devonte Graham had 15 points and 13 assists for the Hornets, who finished seven of 39 from the three-point range after missing their first 18 attempts from beyond the arc.
The Thunder got off to a slow start, failing to score until nearly five minutes into the game after missing their first eight shots from the field and both free-throw attempts. But Oklahoma City still managed to build a 16-point lead in the first half largely because the Hornets struggled from long distance.
The Thunder’s bench outscored the Hornets’ 47-26. Oklahoma City’s bench has outscored its opponent’s reserves in 24 of 31 games this season.
Overtime started in an odd way with Paul making a free throw after Rozier was assessed a technical foul for throwing the ball into the crowd at the end of regulation.
Up next the Thunder travel to Toronto to face the Raptors tomorrow.
EVAN FOURNIER scored 20 points and Orlando survived a collapse from the free throw line in the final minute in the Magic’s 98-97 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Aaron Gordon had 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Nikola Vucevic had 16 points and 12 rebounds for Orlando. Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris each had 24 points and 11 rebounds for the 76ers. Embiid missed a desperation 30-footer at the buzzer.
Orlando led 93-83 after Gordon’s dunk with 1:49 left in the game, but it was far from over. The Magic were five of 11 from the free throw line in the final 1:30.
Philadelphia’s last four field goals were three-pointers that gave them a chance at winning.