Every morning, we will give you five things from the night before in the NBA to start your day.
BREAKING: LAKERS FIRE MIKE BROWN
1: Durant does it again
Kevin Durant.
Do I need to say anything more? Durant took over the final moments of the fourth quarter in Chicago, making several difficult shots to sink the Bulls and secure a win for the Thunder.
Durant scored 24 points on 11-for-19 shooting, overcoming six turnovers, and coming through when the Thunder needed him. His Dirk Nowitzki-like step-back, one-legged fall-away jumper capped off the 10 points he scored in the fourth quarter. Durant proved again that he knows when to step up his game and do what his team needs him to do.
Until that point, Serge Ibaka was carrying the load with 21 points and nine rebounds as the Thunder held off the Bulls for the 97-91 win.
2: CP3 teaches Lillard a lesson
The Thursday national television appearance gave the world a chance to look at Damian Lillard. Chris Paul made sure Lillard learned a little lesson about the NBA.
Lillard scored 16 points and four assists. Chris Paul had 21 points and six assists. Jamal Crawford had 25 points off the bench as Portland ran away with a 103-90 victory at the Rose Garden.
3: HIGHLIGHTS!!!
Durant does the Dirk
Batum with the steal
Serge Ibaka with the nice move
4: Line of the Night: Jamal Crawford 25 points, 9/17 FGs, +19
As Wendell wrote earlier today, Jamal Crawford had a great night in his return to Portland. Crawford said he and his teammates deserved to be booed for last year's disappointing performance for the Trail Blazers. Crawford averaged career lows with Portland last year. Now he is finding a home and putting up fantastic numbers off the bench once again.
5: You can quote me on that
It was his time. Everybody knows that's his time. And he took his time and got the shots he needed.
–Russell Westbrook on Kevin Durant closing the game
He has plays that he calls that get me to the block. Other than that, you float to the elbow. So the offense is designed for me to be at the elbow. What do you want me to say? I don’t have nothing to say. I’m taking what I’m getting out there. We call post up plays, but our offense starts at the elbow.
