The young and talented Thunder have no problem dismissing the sagging Cavaliers in Oklahoma City.
View full sizeKevin Durant poses a particularly difficult challenge for the Cavaliers as Cleveland attempts to end a seven-game losing streak tonight.OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- Final observations from the Cavs game against the Thunder at the Oklahoma City Arena:
For the first time, the Cavs are showing some of the emotional toll all this losing is taking on the team. Before the game, coach Byron Scott admitted this season has been tougher than he thought it was going to be. That was quite an admission, since Scott has been adamant that this team is the best he has taken over. It still may be better than his first teams in New Jersey and New Orleans, but right now its not playing like it.
Then, after the game, Scott took forever to come out of the locker room to address the media and admitted he was just trying to collect his thoughts. Frankly, all the questions and answers have been the same throughout most of the streak, having to do with the Cavs poor defense, poor offensive execution and, now, poor bench play.
And for the first time, there are signs of tension in the locker room. When J.J. Hickson was asked about Scott's criticism of the reserves, he said, "Oh, so he's blaming it on the bench.'' Hickson caught himself before he went too far, but it's clear the losing and the changes are getting to everyone.
The worst part? There's no end in sight, not with games this week at Miami and at Indiana, followed by home games against the New York Knicks and Utah Jazz. Where will tempers be a week from now?
Final: Thunder 106, Cavs 77. Another night, another loss.
Kevin Durant needed only three quarters to score 25 points, and James Harden and Jeff Green added 19 apiece to lead the Oklahoma Thunder to a decisive 106-77 victory over the Cavaliers on Sunday evening in Oklahoma City Arena.
If you missed Harden's dunk over J.J. Hickson, don't worry. It will be running in a loop on ESPN for the next 24 hours.
Anthony Parker had 12 points and Daniel Gibson 11 for the Cavs, who fell to 7-17 with their eighth straight loss. It's their longest losing streak since they dropped eight straight from Nov. 19 to Dec. 3, 2003, LeBron James' rookie season. Seven of the eight opponents in this streak have scored 100 or more points.
Oklahoma City improved to 17-8. The Thunder shot 53.2 percent for the game and outscored the Cavs in the paint, 56-28.
Third quarter update: Thunder 86, Cavs 58. The Cavs were hanging around for most of the third quarter and were within 67-57 until a 12-0 blitz, including five points by Kevin Durant and four by James Harden pretty much settled the issue.
Ryan Hollins did go nose-to-nose with Durant after taking a charge, and Joey Graham fouled Durant hard on the Thunder's next possession. But none of that slowed Oklahoma City, which increased its lead after three quarters to 86-58 on a 3-pointer at the buzzer by Eric Maynor.
For those keeping track, the Thunder closed the period on a 19-1 run.
Halftime update: Thunder 56, Cavs 45. The Cavs starters returned and managed to cut the Thunder's 22-point lead in half by halftime, but they can't actually play the entire 24 minutes of the second half, can they?
Once Byron Scott goes to his bench, it's all over. So far the highlights of the first half were James Harden's poster dunk on J.J. Hickson and Thunder fan Robert Yankers hitting a halfcourt shot to win $20,000 between the first and second quarters.
Maybe Chris Grant should take a look? Yankers told the in-arena interviewer that he played on Great Britain's national team with Luol Deng.
First quarter update: Thunder 31, Cavs 17. The Cavs are putting up no resistance as Oklahoma City is doing whatever it wants, including driving the lane with impunity.
Kevin Durant already has 14 points, more than halfway to his league-leading 27.5 points per game.
Cavs starters: F Anthony Parker, F Antawn Jamison, C Anderson Varejao, G Daniel Gibson, G Mo Williams.
Thunder starters: F Kevin Durant, F Jeff Green, C Serge Ibaka, G Thabo Sefolosha, G Russell Westbrook.
Injuries: Cavs, none. Thunder, Nenad Krstic is day-to-day with a lower back sprain.
Inactives: Christian Eyenga, Jamario Moon and Samardo Samues for Cavs. Cole Aldrich, Daequan Cook and Krstic for Thunder.
Officials: Mike Callahan, Kevin Fehr, JT Orr.
Three things to watch
1. Kevin Durant. The league's leading scorer is playing great, and the Cavs will have their hands full trying to do anything about him. Coach Byron Scott has indicated he may use some zone.
2. Will the Cavs get anything out of their bench, which contributed a measly 22 points in the loss at Houston? The Rockets bench had 33 points.
3. This will be the first time the Cavs have seen referee Kevin Fehr since he was part of the crew that upset Scott (and cost him $35,000) in Orlando.