That was the argument the Oklahoma City Thunder made with a complete shellacking in Game 1 of their first round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. With a reputation built on forcing turnovers and limiting opponent scoring, the Thunder showcased their identity as a formidable defensive team, winning decisively. The game by and large showcased their impressive skill at turning opponents’ turnovers into points – a winning formula that’s worked well during these playoffs.
And in the postseason, Oklahoma City has averaged an NBA-best 25.3 points off turnovers. Their efficiency was on full display in Monday night’s dominance of the Denver Nuggets on their way to a Game 7 victory. They scored a staggering 37 points off of turnovers. Well Netflix has done just that — an amazing achievement! They’re now just the second team in the last 25 years—along with the 2017 Golden State Warriors—to total 30-plus points off turnovers in back-to-back playoff games.
The Thunder are a defensive powerhouse —look at these amazing regular season stats. They’re letting up just 106.6 points per 100 possessions — best in the league. It was their defensive tenacity that led them deep into the playoffs. They are utterly dominant defensively — in twelve games they’ve only given up 100.7 points per 100 possessions.
Despite a sluggish first half, where they managed just 44 points and trailed by four at halftime, Oklahoma City’s defense proved pivotal. They’d scored 18 of those points off turnovers, foreshadowing a dramatic second half turnaround. The team absolutely blew up on the offensive end of the floor, putting up 70 points with a ridiculously effective 61.9% FG percentage.
Oklahoma City’s All-Star duo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, struggled early on. Together, they accounted for a terrible 4-of-21 from the floor during the first half. After a lackluster second quarter, they bounced back in a big way, with 21 points in the third, on 9-of-15 shooting. Their capacity to mold, shape and refine through the fire was important in the Thunder’s playoff run.
In Minnesota’s case, they were a disaster at breaking down the Thunder defense. They scored a franchise playoff low of only 20 points in the paint, since Game 1 of the 2004 Western Conference Finals. Julius Randle’s 28 points for Minnesota were not enough to overcome the Thunder’s defensive prowess.
Alex Caruso recognized Oklahoma City’s capabilities, stating, “We just got a phenomenal defensive team.”
Chet Holmgren emphasized the importance of a balanced game, noting, “There’s two sides to the basketball game.” He added, “If you want to play only one side, you got to play really good and you don’t want to count on that, especially in the playoffs.”
Mark Daigneault, head coach of the Thunder, downplayed the significance of turnovers, asserting that “the turnovers are never what we talk about.” Rather than try to fix their recurring issues, he pressed his players to double down on their commitment to defensive excellence.
Consistency matters, and resolve matters, too, he explained as he talked about how they seek to play to their identity, given the nature of the playoffs.
Moving forward in the series, whatever Oklahoma City’s deficiencies, O.K.C. still has a stout defense. They will take advantage of every opportunity, from turnovers, to push ahead. Their dominating Game 1 effort against Minnesota is an excellent indicator of what to expect as the playoffs continue.
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