Spurs blowouts the Thunder historically as they take the first game of their series

Probably the two best small forwards in the league chase down a loose ball in Game One. Photo Credits: Soobum Im

The well-looking Spurs just defeated the Thunder, 124-92 in a Kawhi Leonard show.

The rout started very early. The DPOY finished an emphatic dunk 19 seconds into the game to begin an incredible Spurs quarter that ranks among the most complete performances in playoff history. San Antonio scored 43 points (a franchise playoff record) on 18-of-22 shooting from the field to open up a 23-point lead after one and set the tone for the continued devastation to come. The scoring included 12 fast-break points, 15 assists (and one turnover). The dominant Spurs continued the party until the last quarter outscoring them the whole game.

A heated matchup was expected against LaMarcus Aldridge and Serge Ibaka. The latter has been a Spurs killer throughout his career, particularly as a disruptor at the defensive end. But Aldridge dominated him in Game 1 for a game-high 38 points on 18-of-23 shooting.  Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant also seems to be rivals but the Spurs star also dominated him.  Kawhi Leonard often moved off Durant and onto Westbrook, holding the uber-athletic guard to 1-of-7 shooting in their possessions against each other. It perhaps shouldn't come as a huge shock that the two-time Defensive Player of the Year guarded one of the most explosive players in the league. He finished with 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting in just 22 minutes, an astonishingly efficient game.


The Thunder will probably consider fixing their offensive struggles of relatively minor concern, because Durant and Westbrook are capable of putting up big numbers against perfect defense. But OKC's defensive struggles were downright alarming, enough so that their future adjustments should come to define their ability to compete from here on out. The pick-and-roll coverage looked consistently confused, with San Antonio getting easy buckets and wide-open jumpers nearly every time they tried that action. The close-outs on shooters were just as bad — the Spurs only attempted eight three-pointers in the first half by the box score but went to the line for three free throws on four occasions. The Thunder appeared uncertain how or when to challenge a jump shooter in a way that just isn't seen at this point in the postseason. Frankly, they should be embarrassed.

Game Two will be at May 3 on the Spurs ground. Can the Thunder bounce back?