Thunder Rumblings

Nuggets from my notebook from Saturday’s Game 3 loss at Memphis. This space came close to being filled with details on how the Thunder weathered three storms in Memphis on Saturday night and got out of Game 3 with a mandatory road win. Instead, a second straight game of sloppy late-game...

My first post-game email after the Thunder’s 87-81 loss to the Grizzlies concerned someone bashing Kendrick Perkins. So might as well get right to it. Seems like it’s all anyone cares about. So, OK. Perk played 16:51, after playing 34:16 and 24:13 the first two games of this series. With...

Friday night’s NBA playoff results were a friendly reminder of who’s in charge until someone proves otherwise. Chicago and Golden State were riding high, playing their first home games after gaining a split on the road in their conference semifinals series. Both had chances to take 2-1...

Turning point In the closing moments, with the game still up in the air, Reggie Jackson made a pair of overaggressive and costly fouls. First, with the game tied at 81 and less than two minutes left, Jackson barreled down the lane and into Mike Conley, who drew a charge. Moments later, after...

Four questions for five writers, previewing the remainder of the Thunder-Grizzlies Western Conference semifinals: 1. Fact or fiction: For the Thunder to win, KD must score 30+ points. Darnell Mayberry (beat writer) - Fact. Without the scoring abilities of Russell Westbrook, the...

$(document).ready(function() {brightcove.createExperiences();}); Like many of us, Kendrick Perkins was watching TNT on Monday night, enjoying two of the better games these NBA Playoffs have offered up. Chicago shocked Miami and the Warriors collapsed in San Antonio, with the Inside the NBA...

Nuggets from my notebook from Tuesday’s Game 2 loss to the Grizzlies. All the Grizzlies needed to do was split. They let one get away Sunday but got it done in Game 2. Now it’s up to the Thunder to go to Tennessee this weekend and do the same.“It’s the first team to four,” said...

Turning point Reggie Jackson sagged off Mike Conley a bit, overhelping on a Marc Gasol dribble-drive. Gasol kicked it and Conley drilled it, putting in a huge three with 1:58 left to give the Grizzlies a 92-90 lead. It was all Memphis from there, finishing the game on a 10-3 run. It was over...