The scene switches from San Antonio to Oklahoma City. And Game 3 adds an important factor heretofore missing from the series.
In other words, uh oh.
Game 3: San Antonio vs. Oklahoma City.
The score isn't really indicative of how out-of-hand this game got in the 4th quarter. Really, when Butler hit a three from the right corner early in the 4th, this one was over.
But then a funny thing happened which could have an impact on Game 4: the Thunder scored two points in the final four minutes. It made the score look a lot closer. But it also indicates that if the Thunder aren't bringing their best for 48 minutes, the Spurs might be able to do something.
At the very least, they turned a twenty-point deficit into a nine-point loss.
That might not be anything incredible or mind-blowing, really. It might have no impact on the next game or the rest of the series at all.
That said, the Thunder have to continue to play hard for all 48 minutes if they want to beat the Spurs in this series. I'm not sure they can win the series, even with Ibaka returning and Reggie Jackson going nuts.
That's right, Serge Ibaka played in this game. Not only that, but he had an impact throughout. He had 15 points (6-for-7 from the field), seven rebounds, and four blocks.
More than the rebounding and shot-blocking though, his mere presence had an impact on how the Spurs ran their offense, something that Kenny Smith adroitly pointed out at halftime.
Obviously, it wasn't something that got better in the second half. Or else the Spurs probably would have pulled this one out.
A testament to Ibaka's presence, the Spurs' shooting percentages were not that great. Even Danny Green, who started out well, dipped. Pretty much, the only reliable contributor was Ginobili. He just couldn't win it by himself.
A rash of turnovers in the second quarter didn't help either.
San Antonio leads 2-1. Game 4 is Tuesday.
Later today, Game 4 in Miami.
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