GAME ON

The San Antonio Spurs have finally lost a game. This is the first lost the team has suffered since April 11. They were riding a 20 game win streak heading into game 3 in OKC last night, but the Thunder had a different idea.

BAM...ZAP...BOOM!!! I had to reach back into my childhood real quick. But that's how the game seemed last night, as the Oklahoma City Thunder blitzed the Spurs from the opening tip of game 3. OKC got out to a quick 8-0 lead. San Antonio would make a run of their own, but the lead wouldn't last. Thabo Sefolosha was locked in defensively. Thunder head coach, Scott Brooks made a few changes for game 3.
The first thing is, he went to a smaller line up for longer stretches of the game. The second thing was, putting 6'8 wing man Thabo Sefolosha on Tony Parker. You could tell it bothered TP. Parker finished the game with 16 points on 6-12 shooting from the field. Sounds like a good game, but its more than the numbers.

The Thunder were able to switch most screens when the Spurs went pick and roll, and were just a step ahead the whole game. Throughout the game you could tell that the Spurs settled for shots sometimes. The Thunder also got a great contribution from their front line. Ibaka and Perkins were very active on both ends of the court. They combined for 18 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals, and 6 blocks. That's what they need from those two. They need their presence to be felt on the court and I think its safe to say, it was definitely their last night.

San Antonio had been averaging 109 points per game during their month and a half winning streak and had been held to double digits twice. Parker and Duncan didn't play in the final 15 minutes of the game, and Popovich pulled the plug after three straight turnovers allowed the Thunder to reach a 23 point lead early in the fourth quarter. Now the series begins. In another must win game for OKC coming up Saturday night. We will see if they can keep themselves from being on the brink of elimination.