Good morning. Let’s basketball.
The Thunder did that thing where they don’t win
Good morning. We have that and more in Saturday’s NBA newsletter.
THERE IT IS: You’d been waiting for a fourth-quarter meltdown from the Thunder, yes? Here it is! OKC coughed up a late lead to the Spurs and couldn’t quite get it back as Kawhi Leonard sunk clutch free throws and grabbed an improbable, important offensive rebound to essentially end the game. But of course, Russell Westbrook went 10-of-31 while Kevin Durant took 18 FGAs, so that’s all anyone will talk about. (How about Kawhi? He’s great!)
BUT DON’T WORRY, OKC: ESPN reports suggest Durant will leave the Thunder if the team is eliminated in this round, and that the Spurs are a totally legitimate option as to where he’ll land.
THE CHANNING FRYE GAME: So the Hawks definitely punched hard in Game 3, and the Cavaliers took it, and then the Cavaliers punched back and ... yeah. Goodbye, Hawks. Channing Frye had 27. David Griffin for Executive of the Year. After some super annoying complaints from the Hawks about decorum in recent days, Atlanta was a bit chippy, which included Jeff Teague shoving LeBron toward the stands. Chill out Jeff Teague! Have a sideways pizza!
SCORES GALORE ...
CLE 121, ATL 108 (Cavaliers lead 3-0)
SAS 100, OKC 96 (Spurs lead 2-1)
ON THE AIR TONIGHT-ISH ...
Raptors at Heat, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN, Series tied 1-1
Warriors at Blazers, 8:30 p.m., ABC, GSW leads 2-0
SAD! Kevin Love slipped on some sweat after being crossed up, and he fell, and the Hawks stunted on him.
WELP: Four Thunderians point out Tony Parker, encouraging a teammate to guard him. No one guards him.
OH MAN: As Mark Jackson sides with referees on the broadcast, Jeff Van Gundy jokes that M-Jax must already have a coaching job lined up if he’s sucking up to the officials. The funny thing is that they both might be coaching next year!
WHATEVER YOU NEED: Zito Madu on the flexibility of Klay Thompson in role prominence.
FRANK TALK: I wrote about how Frank Vogel’s contract situation may have forced Larry Bird’s hand in Indiana.
OH DEAR LORD: J.R. Smith has hit nearly as many threes through his age-30 season as Ray Allen. Steph Curry is going to shatter this record by the time he turns 29, of course.
Happy Saturday. See you next time.
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