Thunder Wins Game #2 of First Round Playoffs

by terah on 21. Apr, 2011 in Featured

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA (NEWSTABULOUS) – The Thunder leads the series 2-0 with Wednesday night’s well earned win against the Nuggets.

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook led the Thunder again combining for 44 points: Durant with 23 and Westbrook with 21 points. The Thunder dominated the glass, out-rebounding Denver 54-31.

Ty Lawson was the top scorer with 20 points among four players in double figures for The Nuggets. Nene and Raymond Felton added 16 points a piece.

Nuggets coach George Karl said of the game:

“The first quarter really shook us.”

The start of the game had the Nuggets nervous as the attacking Thunder players put on a show and energized their fans. Thunder wasted no time taking control of the game beating the Nuggets 43-17 in the first half.

George Karl added:

“It was a bad start for us, they were totally in control, totally energized. They were quicker than we were and probably smarter. The later when it looked like we could cut it to ten, a three ball would go in or an offensive rebound would break your heart.”

Thunder’s forward, Kevin Durant, explained:

“We didn’t want those guys to have a shooting barrage like they did Sunday night to start the game. Our energy at the beginning was great. We just tried to play hard.”

Wilson Chandler held Westbrook to just nine points on 3-for-10 shooting during the first half. The Nuggets opened the game 1-for-8. Nene was 0-3 in the first five minutes and ended the first half just 1-for-6. Denver shot only 29 percent during the first quarter, two of those baskets came in the last 30 seconds of the quarter.

The Thunder is off to a promising start showing that they have what it takes to blow out the Nuggets in the first round.

Game 3 starts at 10:30 p.m. ET Saturday at the Pepsi Center.

Watch NBA Highlights of the game @ nba.com

Thunder coach, Scott Brooks, said:

“That was a very good win, we did what we had to do, protect our home court. I thought the start of the game was about as good as we can play at both ends of the floor.”

photo: sportsillustrated.cnn.com