Steven Adams gets to Suns rookie Deandre Ayton early
Suns center
walked off the court, hand on one hip, breathing hard. He was done for the second quarter, finally getting a break from
the Thunder center who had shut down the rookie’s scoring since subbing on with just over six minutes left in the first half.
The Thunder’s 118-101 win over the Suns at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Monday was the first time Ayton had gone up against Adams — Adams was out with calf tightness the last time the Thunder faced the
Maddie Lee STAFF WRITER
Suns.
The veteran took advantage of the matchup to drop a message-sending 14 points in the first half, while Ayton went 2-of-6 from the floor before the intermission.
“He’s an elite center,” Suns coach said of Adams before the game. “He changes a lot when it comes to physicality and his presence. His frame is different, and we’re going to feel it. So he’s got to feel us, too. It’s not just on Deandre, it’s everybody.”
When it came to defending Adams’ post moves, however, Ayton was often on his own.
The Thunder got the ball to Adams with a chance to put OKC up 12-5 in the first quarter. He bent at the waist and looked to his left. Ayton was on his back, but Adams liked his chances against the talented rookie. He spun to his right, wedging himself between Ayton and the rim, and dropped the ball into the basket.
So went much of Ayton’s first quarter. Adams made five of his first six shots.
On the other end of the court, Adams joined
in double-teaming Phoenix guard
in the first half, while also defending Ayton. The Thunder allowed a season-low 13 first quarter points, with none from Ayton, who finished the night with 14 points, and 7 from Booker. Thunder guard matched up with Booker in the second half.
Adams’ offensive production quieted down in the second half, and he finished the night with 18 points, most of his second-half production coming off late rolls to the basket.
“Steven’s such an unselfish player,” Thunder coach
said after the game, “if things are going well that are away from him, even though he’s going well, he’s a total team guy.”
Birthday bench
spent his 30th birthday on the bench Monday, still recovering from a left ankle sprain. It was the fourth full game Westbrook missed, after sustaining the injury in the Thunder’s 122-116 win over the Pelicans last week.
George was asked at shootaround Monday if Westbrook had gotten grief yet for being old.
“He will,” George said, smiling. “He’ll definitely get a little bit from everybody.”