The Ford Center claimed another victim last night, as the San Antonio Spurs forgot how to shoot free throws down the stretch. Three misses in the final four minutes proved to be one of the factors in a very close game, and the Thunder captured their fourth home victory in a row.
Oklahoma City clamped on the defense and pulled within one win of the magic 20. The 78-76 shocker brings the total to 19, only one off last season's mark and by far exceeding most NBA's 'experts'. All the record-breaking talk is long gone as is most of the chance of securing the top pick in June's Draft.
But that is the least of the Thunder's worries now. OKC knocked off the Western Conference's second best team with the best defensive showing in franchise history. The Spurs scored only 13 points in the final quarter and were done in by turnovers.
Fueling the defensive effort, Thabo Sefolosha does it all with very little recognition. He doesn't need the ball very often but still finds a way to score double figures every night out. It it his flexibility on the defensive end that has the Thunder owning a 5-3 record this month and a starting role well beyond the next month.
A first round pick seems like a steal now, as OKC can finish with an above .500 mark at home by winning out. This would have seemed laughable in October or even February, but the Thunder can't wait to show the doubters what the future has in store. And a certain Swiss-born guard will have the biggest smile of them all.
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