The Thunder are going to feel that one for a while

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

BEAT ‘EM DOWN: This season has seen a seemingly inordinate number of highly anticipated games turn into straight-up beatdowns. Game 1 of Thunder-Spurs was no exception. San Antonio put 43 up on OKC in the first quarter as Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge and Danny Green couldn’t miss. On the other end, Kawhi shadowed Russell Westbrook, Green locked down Kevin Durant and the Thunder couldn’t get anything going. As a result, we had a full quarter of garbage time. The Spurs are f&$@ing terrifying.

Tim Cato was in San Antonio and wrote about how this was just another day at the office for a franchise that expects excellence.

REVENGE: Paul Flannery’s Sunday Shootaround dives deep into the Atlanta Hawks, who survived a tough series against the Celtics and now think they are better than ever as they step up to face the Cavaliers. The biggest question is whether Thabo Sefolosha and Kent Bazemore can handle LeBron. Flanns also eulogizes the Celtics, offers up four intriguing second-round players and one hopeful, gives you the best quotes of the week and more. Check it out.

SCORE GALORE ...

OKC 92, SAS 124 (Spurs lead 1-0)

ON THE AIR TODAY ...

Hornets at Heat, 1 p.m. ET, ABC, Series tied 3-3
Blazers at Warriors, 3:30 p.m., ABC, Series tied 0-0
Pacers at Raptors, 8 p.m., TNT, Series tied 3-3

Given the competitiveness of the series, you’d think Charlotte-Miami would have the most on the line. But the Hornets’ season can already be deemed a success, and the Heat are going to be inordinately different next season either way. The Pacers probably wouldn’t be crushed by a loss either. (Frank Vogel has already been vindicated.)

It’s the Raptors who face their demons in Game 7. That franchise needs this so, so bad.

LUKEY IN LA-LA LAND: Why the Lakers needed to land Luke Walton. Plus, Ramona Shelburne explains why Walton jumped at the chance to take over the Lakers.

G.O.A.T.U.S.: President Barack Obama ends his final White House Correspondents’ Dinner routine with an ode to Kobe, saying “Obama out,” kissing his fingers and dropping the mic.

EXCELLENT: TNT producers made a Drake meme about Kobe carrying Shaq during their title run. It got Shaq so mad he walked off the set.

PURPLE SHIRT MAN UPDATE: He’s the same guy who got a red card for talking to Kevin Durant. And he sounds like a real gem.

COACH TALK: The Kings are planning to interview Patrick Ewing. Alright!

Happy Sunday. See you next time.