The Oklahoma City Thunder are showing a strong degree of vulnerability. Over the weekend, the Thunder were double digit favourites it both of their games, but lost 117-114 to the Indiana Pacers on Friday and then 103-101 to the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.
In the Thunder game against the Pacers, Indiana came through with the biggest upset of the season. The Pacers entered the game as a 15.5 point underdog. The previous biggest underdog to win a game this season was 15 points. On New Year’s Eve, the Washington Wizards beat the Milwaukee Bucks 114-113. Then on January 5, the Denver Nuggets beat the Philadelphia 76ers 125-124 in overtime.
Five Pacers reached double digits in points. Canadian point guard Andrew Nembhard of Toronto, Ontario led the way with 27 points. Power forward Jarace Walker of New Freedom, Pennsylvania had 26 points, power forward Pascal Siakam of Douala, Cameroon had 21 points, small forward Aaron Nesmith of Charleston, South Carolina had 17 points and center Micah Potter of Mentor, Ohio had 10 points off the bench. Nembhard and Potter had double-doubles. Nembhard had 11 assists and Potter had 10 rebounds. Another Pacers player reached double digits in rebounds as Australian shooting guard Johnny Furphy of Melbourne had 10 boards.
Then in the Thunder win over the Raptors, its was Toronto which was the 11 point underdog but won by two points. The Raptors most notable performance came from point guard Immanel Quickley of Havre de Grace, Maryland. Quickley made two key baskets from downtown, and collected two key rebounds.
So what we saw this past weekend was the best team in the NBA not coming up big when it mattered the most. Still, the Thunder have won seven of 10 games despite the losing streak, and next play the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday. Even the NBA’s best can be occasionally vulnerable.
