The Jazz didn’t have commanding control of their series with the Thunder going into Monday’s Game 4, but apparently they had full control of the space inside OKC’s collective head. After Russell Westbrook declared he would shut down Ricky “Rick” Rubio, the Thunder crumbled under the weight of dynamo rookie Donovan Mitchell, Aussie smoke machine Joe Ingles, and their own impending doom. The Jazz won, 113-96.
There’s so much Jazz inside the Thunder’s heads you’d think it was 1920s Harlem
We have that and more in Tuesday’s NBA newsletter.
Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
The game was most notable for the immense amount of anger and frustration exhibited all night, particularly by OKC. Paul George and Ingles were handsy and chatty all night (each had a technical — PG probably could have had a couple had the refs absolutely not wanted to kick anyone out until they had to). Jae Crowder caught Steven Adams with an elbow while facing up with other OKC players. Adams didn’t flinch and Crowder hit the showers. Westbrook tried to intimidate Rubio and Rubio really didn’t flinch (though statistically he didn’t have nearly as good a game as in Game 3).
OKC is in a precarious place. Losing this series on their home court in Game 5 would be painful, and could cost the team Paul George this summer. Carmelo Anthony’s $27 million player option looks like a tougher pill to swallow every day. Things are not well in Thunderland right now. Can Westbrook or PG snap them free? The first step is to evict the Jazz out of their skulls. Good luck.
Monday’s Scores
Rockets 119, Timberwolves 100
Houston leads 3-1
Recaps: The Dream Shake | Canis Hoopus
Jazz 113, Thunder 96
Utah leads 3-1
Recaps: SLC Dunk | Welcome To Loud City
Tuesday’s Schedule
Bucks at Celtics, 7 p.m. ET, NBA TV
Series tied 2-2
Heat at Sixers, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
Philadelphia leads 3-1
Spurs at Warriors, 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Golden State leads 3-1
Links on Links on Links
The Rockets led the Wolves by one point at halftime. Then they dropped 50 points in the third quarter. Fifty. Points. In a quarter. A full 40 of them came on three-pointers and free throws. Rockets gonna Rocket.
A little politics intersection for you: Mitt Romney had excellent seats and a custom Romney No. 5 jersey in Utah, where the 2012 presidential candidate is running for U.S. Senate. He used those extraordinary powers to ... taunt Russell Westbrook, as one does. Retail politics at work. Meanwhile, man of the world Reggie Miller referred to our hero Rick Rubio as “Marco Rubio,” and then struggled to remember if Marco Rubio is a senator or a governor. Banner night in the civic square.
In case you didn’t catch it this weekend, BEEF HISTORY ON BOOGIE COUSINS AND CHRIS PAUL. The beef was hot!
Me: “Ooh, the only late game Tuesday is the end of a Spurs-Warriors gentleman’s sweep, I can catch up on the sleep that Jazz-Thunder rudely stole from me.” Also me: “I am not missing what might be Manu Ginobili’s final NBA game, no way.”
Anyone else excited to see Anthony Davis in the second round? Anyone?
Data journalism that matters: is Rick Rubio better with or without the man bun?
Speaking of data journalism, Ben Falk is exceptional. One of the three best devoted basketball analytic writers working today, in my estimation (with Chris Herring and Kevin Pelton). This meditation on foul trouble was illuminating and simplifying.
What Ben Simmons needs more than a jumper. Yes, that’s right, it’s love.
Noted social media enthusiast Kevin Durant liked an Instagram comment critical of Russell Westbrook and then claimed it was inadvertant, like any of us would ever believe that. The dude Quire Sultan might get the benefit of the doubt on that, but KD doesn’t.
There is a lot of skepticism around Darius Bazley’s decision to go from high school to the G League.
Condi Rice’s college basketball commission is set to release its report on Wednesday. Mike Rutherford explains it all. The NBA has said it may change its eligibility rules around the age minimum in response to this report.
On Monday I decried the state of Basketball Twitter. I appreciate the conversation this started! But I appreciate this James Harden Renaissance painting meme way, way more.
WNBA stars showed out at the EuroLeague Final Four. Emma Meesseman is your EuroLeague MVP. Speaking of the women’s game, muchas felicidades to new Swish Appeal EIC Tamryn Spruill. You’ve seen her work on the Warriors linked here in the past.
Be excellent to each other.
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