Trailing after all three quarters and being down early in the fourth, the Thunder would tie things up late before taking control of the game in overtime to go on to win 122-118 over the Suns.
The Suns let the game get away from them after having control of the game for most of the first 36 minutes. Phoenix had a five-point lead to start off the fourth, but missed 10 of their 13 shots and committed five turnovers and scored just six points in the first eight minutes so the Thunder could eventually tie things up and send it to an extra five-minute session.
James Harden and Russell Westbrook more than made up for Kevin Durant’s quiet night. Durant had only 18 points, well below his average. Harden had 26 points and six rebounds off the bench and Westbrook had a double-double with 32 points and 11 dishes. Serge Ibaka added 15 points and seven boards and Nick Collison had a near double-double of 11 points and nine rebounds off the bench.
Not only did the Suns lose the game, but they also lost their starting power forward. At the 6:28 mark of the fourth quarter, Channing Frye went down in pain after Kevin Durant swiped at his right arm in the post. Frye had to come out immediately after setting a career in rebounds with 15 and didn’t return. It was later learned that the big man had dislocated his shoulder and he will have an MRI on it today to learn the severity of the injury.
Phoenix got big games from Vince Carter and a few guys off the bench. After missing Friday’s game in Milwaukee, the Suns shooting guard went off for 29 points, four rebounds and four assists. He did miss some big shots at key points of the fourth and the overtime session though, including missing two free-throws when he was fouled on a three in OT when the Suns were down two.
The trio of Marcin Gortat, Jared Dudley and Mickael Pietrus were great once again off the bench. In 39 minutes, Gortat put up 20 points, eight rebounds and even dished out four assists. Dudley had 10 points and was effective shooting the ball making four of his six shots. Pietrus didn’t miss a beat returning to the bench after starting for Carter on Friday. He had 20 points going 4-of-6 from three-point range.
To pile on the bad news for the Suns, the Grizzlies beat the Mavericks in Dallas by a point, which means they gained ground on the Suns for the eighth spot. Phoenix will try to bounce back at home tomorrow to face ex-Sun Goran Dragic and the Houston Rockets.
Original Story:
http://www.sunszoo.com/2011/03/phoeni...
