Abrines steps up on defense in Game 5 win against Jazz
Did your eyes deceive you Wednesday night? Nope. Alex Abrines did stay in front of dynamic Jazz rookie Donovan Mitchell and swatted away his shot.
Seconds later, Abrines was on the end of a 3-pointer with Russell
Westbrook staring him down. Westbrook had his jaw jutted out Kobe Bryant style and was rubbing the sides of his face for Abrines’ celebration.
Abrines played 25 minutes Wednesday in the Thunder’s 107-99 win, 10 coming in a critical fourth quarter in which his defense was as valuable as his offense.
Abrines’ physical effort on Jazz center Rudy Gobert on the glass drew a critical fifth foul on the Jazz big in the third quarter, coinciding with the Thunder’s rallying run.
When Abrines came off with 1:33 left in the fourth quarter, Corey Brewer came in and held him for an elongated hug. The Thunder was 18 points better than the Jazz with Abrines on the floor.
“I told him ‘Great. Great. You did great tonight,’” Brewer said. “He was amazing. He played great ‘D,’ kept Mitchell in front of him. He did everything he needed to do for us to get a win.
“I was over there (on the bench) cheering my butt off. That’s what it’s about. Guys have got to step up in the playoffs. You never know who it’s gonna be any night.”
Melo explains frustration
The Thunder did its most damage when Carmelo Anthony went to the bench for Jerami Grant in the third quarter.
With Anthony out from 7:19 in the third quarter to 7:58 in the fourth, the Thunder went on a 33-16 run.
Anthony finished with just seven points on six shots. While on the bench, Anthony was seen arguing with Thunder assistant
Maurice Cheeks.
“It was just me wanting to play, me wanting to be a part of what was going on out there, trying to get and understand what was going on out there,” Anthony said. “He was trying to get me to understand kinda what was going on in the situation when those guys were rolling.
“I think for me my competitive nature just took over, wanting to be a part of kind of that atmosphere and that game, and really not wanting to go home. That’s it.”
Anthony said if his minutes get cut in Game 6 or if there’s a Game 7, it’ll be about a read of the game from Donovan.
“If the guys have it going out there, there’s no reason for me to be upset,” Anthony said. “Of course I want to be in there and be a part of that, but in Game 6 if they have it going, I’ll understand, but hopefully we won’t be in this situation again.”
Donovan shows desperate times in rotation, frustration
Billy Donovan was fuming, as frustrated as he’s ever been on the Thunder sideline. It wasn’t hard for official Ed Malloy to hand Donovan a technical foul.
Donovan was hot about a clear Abrines foul on Mitchell shooting a 3-pointer in the second quarter. It’s a misconception that Donovan doesn’t get fired up on the sidelines. He was seventh in the NBA among head coaches in technical fouls in the regular season.
But Abrines’ foul was fairly obvious. Donovan was grasping for a spark. He could possibly be grasping for his job whenever the Thunder’s season ends.
With the Thunder playing poorly through two and a half quarters and facing elimination in Game 5 of its Western Conference firstround series, desperate times called for desperate measures.
Donovan has gone all-in before in an elimination game, primarily by changing up his rotation. He did so too late last season, staggering Victor Oladipo with the second unit in Game 5 against the Rockets.
He went all-in again Wednesday, going early to Grant and the little-utilized Josh Huetis midway through the first quarter.
Donovan played 10 players in the first half, deeper into his rotation earlier into the game than he’s gone since Game 1.
Game time
Game 6 in Salt Lake City will be at 9:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.