In a series that has been dominated by two of the leagues biggest scoring threats, the stage couldn't be any brighter in Oklahoma City than it is tonight. Two years ago the once prideful Seattle SuperSonics packed up their bags and headed to the midwest. Who would have ever thought Oklahoma City would be the site of a pivotal game three rubber match to give someone the edge in a push toward an NBA Finals appearance? As unlikely as it all seemed years ago, the reality is set to hit tonight when the Oklahoma City Thunder take the floor with stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westrbook and look to take a 2-1 series lead.
After hosting the New Orleans Hornets for home games during a season that removed the Hornets from NOLA after hurricane Katrina in 2005, OKC began its push to obtain its own franchise. The same fan support that drove them to land the SuperSonics franchise are now the same rabid fans who may push the franchise into the Finals. Just three years ago this team was still looking like a perennial lottery team. Fast forward a couple years and now they are just three wins away from the franchises first Finals appearance since 1996 with their next two games being at home. OKC has built a fast reputation for home court advantage, true to the ambition that landed them the franchise, the place gets as loud as an NBA arena can get.
So the Thunder has some of the best, loudest, most die hard fans in the league. We'll on the flip side is one of the NBA's most veteran teams. The Dallas Mavericks have already dominated the first game in the series, a game in which Dirk Nowitzki scored 48 points and set an NBA record for 24-24 free throw shooting. Dirk's not the only veteran on a team who combined has nearly 30 All-Star game appearances amongst its ranks. This veteran experience is just thing thing that makes this series so special. In one corner is one of the fastest rising young teams in the league, on the other a mixture of aging vets who are poised to make one final push to get that elusive NBA championship ring.
Not to be outdone by Dirk, OKC's Kevin Durant (NBA scoring leader) has also showed up to do what he does better than almost anyone in basketball, and thats put points on the board. However, in game two it became less about the stars for the Thunder and more about bench play down the stretch. Durant was the only starter in the game for the Thunder who rallied to victory behind the play of second year PG Eric Maynor, and second year wing James Harden. All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook remained on the bench the entire fourth quarter for coach Scott Brooks' squad after Brooks and Westrbook had a verbal altercation late in the third. All involved state the reason Westbrook was not in the game was because of the stellar play of Maynor who looked good running the show in the clutch. Looking even better was OKC X-Factor James Harden who contributed 23 points, with ten of them coming in the final frame.
So thats where it stands, lot of good basketball, lot of good scoring, and a lot of good drama. Tied 1-1, the series is set to resume later tonight on ESPN.
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