Small group equals big win for the Oklahoma City Thunder
The key to a big win?
A smaller lineup for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Thunder’s rout of the Golden State Warriors in Game 3 could be attributed to the Thunder using a five-man group that featured Serge Ibaka as the only power forward/center on the floor. That group was outscored by seven points in limited usage in Games 1 and 2.
But in Game 3, the Thunder used that lineup for nearly 40 percent of plays and it worked like a charm. They shot 25-of-35 with it (71 percent), held the Warriors to 33 percent shooting (12-of-36), and outscored Golden State by 34 points.
The Thunder’s best five-man lineup was Russell Westbrook, Andre Roberson, Dion Waiters, Kevin Durant and Ibaka. That unit was plus-30 in 12 minutes and shot 64.0 percent (16-of-25). This marked only the fourth time that Roberson and Waiters scored in double figures in the same game.
Entering Game 3, that grouping was the Thunder’s worstfive-man unit this season (including playoffs), getting outscored by 38 points.
Looking ahead
With the win, ESPN’s Basketball Power Index gives the Thunder a 57 percent chance to win this series.
But the Warriors have been in this position before. This is the third time they’ve trailed 2-1 in a playoff series in the past two postseasons. In both of the previous two instances, they won three straight games.
The Warriors are the fifth 65-win team to lose by more than 25 points since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976-77. Each of the previous four teams featured the NBA MVP and bounced back to win the championship.
