3. 2013 NW DIV CHAMP OKC THUNDER v. 11. 2017 EAST CHAMP CLEVELAND CAVS
Thunder: 60-22, 1st NW Div, 1st Off, 4th Def
d. Rockets West 1st Rnd 4-2
Lost Grizzlies West Semis 4-1
#36 overall seed
d. '54 Nats (2-0, Durant 2 PotG)
Coach: Scott Brooks, Mo Cheeks is an assistant
Starters
C Nick Collison (32 Kansas) 5.1 PPG 13.6 PER 5.2 Win Shares 1.2
F Serge Ibaka (23) 13.2 19.4 9.4 2.2
F Kevin Durant (24 Texas) 28.1 28.3 18.9 8.9 VORP
G Russell Westbrook (24 UCLA) 23.2 23.9 11.6 4.6
G Kevin Martin (29 Western Carolina) 14 16 7 1.6
Rotation Reserves
C Haheem Thabeet (25 UConn) 2.4 11.6 2.2 .1
F Kendrick Perkins (28) 4.2 8.2 2.5 .1
F Jeremy Lamb 20-UConn 3.1 11.2 .2 -.1
G Reggie Jackson (22 Boston College) 5.3 14.2 2.5 .5
G Thabo Sefolosha (28) 7.6 12.8 6.8 2.5
Leaders: Westbrook (4th Assists, 5th Steals, 5th WS, 2nd Team All NBA
Ibaka (1st Blocks, 4th FG%, 1st Blocks/Gm, 4th Eff FG%, 2nd Block %)
Durant (1st Pts, 3rd Triple Doubles, 1st FT%, 2nd PPG, 2nd PER, 2nd True Shooting, 5th Off Rating, 2nd WS, 2nd WS/48, 2nd +/-, 2nd VORP, 1st Team All NBA
Martin (4th FT%)
The 4th seed in the Region, the '95 Sonics, won the top half. We kick off the bottom with the Thunder; KD is 24, he is the second best player in the world in 2013, 2nd in PER, VORP, Win Shares, Win Shares/48, +/1. Westbrook's also 24, double digit WS, 20+ PER.
Cavs: 51-31, 1st Cent Div, 3rd Off, 21st Def
d. Pacers East 1st Rnd 4-0
d. Raptors East Semis 4-0
d. Celtics East Finals 4-1
Lost Warriors NBA Finals 4-1
#164 overall seed
d. '09 Celtics (2-1, LeBron 2 PotG)
Coach: Tyronn Lue
Starters
C Tristan Thompson (25 Texas) 8.1 PPG 15.3 PER 7.3 Win Shares .7
F Kevin Love (28 UCLA) 19 21.1 6.4 1.9
F LeBron James (32) 26.4 27 12.9 6.7 VORP
G Kyrie Irving (24 Duke) 25.2 23 8.9 3.4
G Kyle Korver (35 Creighton) 10.7 13.5 2 .5
Rotation Reserves
C Channing Frye (33 Arizona) 9.1 15.6 3.7 1.1
F Richard Jefferson (36 Arizona) 5.7 8.3 2.1 -.4
F JR Smith (31) 8.6 8.1 .8 0
G Deron Williams (32 Illinois) 7.5 11.4 .6 -.1
G Iman Shumpert (26 Georgia Tech) 7.5 9 2 -.1
Leaders: LeBron 5th Assists, 3rd Triple Doubles, 5th Asst %, 5th Off WS, 4th VORP, 1st Team All NBA
Korver 1st 3Pt %
Irving 3rd FT%
Thompson 4th Off Reb %, 4th Off Rating,
Three starters over 20 PER, 32 year old LeBron, who adds double digit WS, 24 year old Kyrie and 28 year old KLove. The bench is bad, seriously.
Matchup:
C Thompson(Cavs)
F Push
F Durant (Thunder)
G Westbrook (Thunder)
G Martin (Thunder)
Bench: Thunder
Gm
1Qtr
9 OKC 13 Cavs 5
OKC Collison, Ibaka, Collison, Durant, Martin, Durant(3)
Cavs Thompson(3) LeBron
6 OKC 23 Cavs 13
OKC Westbrook, Durant, Collison, Collison, Martin
Cavs Thompson, Korver(3) Love(3)
Bottom half of Region 4 is underway; '95 Sonics won the top half.
3 OKC 31 Cavs 18
OKC Westbrook(3) Durant, Westbrook(3)
Cavs Love, LeBron(3)
1 q Score Thunder 38 Cavs 28
OKC Sefolosha(3) Jackson, Thabeet
Cavs LeBron, Korver(3) Williams, Jefferson(3)
Huge start for the Thunder - 8 for Westbrook, 7 for Durant.
2 Qtr
9 OKC 44 Cavs 33
OKC Ibaka, Durant, Durant
Cavs Frye, Smith(3)
6 OKC 49 Cavs 43
OKC Collison, Sefolosha(3)
Cavs Irving, Smith(3) Irving(3) Lebron
Cleveland lands 3 triples and cuts the deficit to 6.
3 OKC 54 Cavs 52
OKC Martin, Durant(3)
Cavs LeBron, Irving, Thompson, Love(3)
H Score OKC 58 Cavs 57
OKC Westbrook, Westbrook
Cavs Irving, Korver(3)
Great charge for the Cavs, riding the 3 ball to get back into the game.
3 Qtr
9 Cavs 62 OKC 61
OKC Durant(3)
Cavs Love(3) Irving
6 Cavs 70 OKC 68
OKC Sefolosha, Durant, Sefolosha(3)
Cavs Frye(3) Frye
Channing Frye has scored the last 5 points, the Cavs take the lead.
3 OKC 77 Cavs 70
OKC Durant, Martin, Sefolosha(3) Ibaka
Cavs
3 Score OKC 91 Cavs 79
OKC Ibaka, Westbrook, Durant, Collison, Sefolosha, Collison, Durant
Cavs Irving, Shumpert(3) Lebron, Shumpert
Big stretch for the Thunder and they're up double digits
4 Qtr
9 OKC 102 Cavs 84
OKC Westbrook, Westbrook(3) Ibaka, Collison, Westbrook(3)
Cavs Lebron, Love(3)
6 OKC 108 Cavs 92
OKC Sefolosha, Ibaka, Westbrook
Cavs Korver (3) Irving, Smith(3)
The Thunder smokes the Cavs in game one, 10 for Westbrook to open the 4th.
3 Thunder 120 Cavs 103
OKC Martin(3) Durant, Ibaka, Durant, Durant(3)
Cavs Love, LeBron, Love, LeBron, irving
F Score Thunder 126 Cavs 109
OKC Durant, Maynor, Jones
Cavs Smith(3) McRae(3)
OKC outscores the Cavs by 16 in the second half and take game one.
Durant: 36 pts/11 boards-Player of the Game(3)
Westbrook: 24 pts/10 boards/9 assists
Ibaka: 14 pts/6 boards
Martin: 11 pts
Collison: 15 pts/8 boards
Sefolosha: 18 pts
LeBron: 20 pts/13 boards/7 assists(2)
Irving: 17 pts/8 assists
Love: 18 pts/18 boards/6 assists
Thompson: 7 pts/10 boards
Korver: 12 pts
Smith: 10 pts
Frye: 10 pts
Gm 2
1Qtr
9 Cavs 12 Thunder 7
Cavs Love, Irving, LeBron(3) Korver(3) Thompson
Thunder Westbrook, Westbrook(3) Ibaka
6 Cavs 14 Thunder 12
Cavs Irving
Thunder Durant, Westbrook, Martin(1)
Westbrook with 7 fast ones; OKC looks to close this out.
3 Cavs 27 Thunder 21
Cavs Love(3) Korver, Thompson, Shumpert, Irving, LeBron
Thunder Westbrook, Martin, Durant(3) Sefolosha
1 q Score Cavs 27 Thunder 26
Cavs
Thunder Perkins, Jackson(3)
Must win here in Cleveland for the Cavs.
2 Qtr
9 Thunder 38 Cavs 30
Cavs LeBron(3)
Thunder Ibaka, Durant, Ibaka, Jackson, Westbrook, Durant
6 Thunder 41 Cavs 33
Cavs Irving(1) LeBron
Thunder Sefolosha(3)
OKC had that big defensive stretch at the end of the first, beginning of the second and are up 8.
3 Thunder 45 Cavs 38
Cavs Love, Williams(3)
Thunder Collison, Westbrook
H Score Thunder 56 Cavs 48
Cavs Irving(3) Korver(3) Irving, Love
Thunder Westbrook(3) Collison, Collison, Ibaka, Westbrook
Cleveland tries to stay alive with the 3 ball.
3 Qtr
9 OKC 64 Cavs 54
Cavs LeBron(1) Thompson, Love(3)
Thunder Ibaka(3) Martin(3) Durant
6 OKC 68 Cavs 61
Cavs Thompson(1) Irving, Irving, LeBron
Thunder Westbrook, Ibaka
Thunder still up 7 - they've not lost yet in the tournament.
3 Thunder 74 Cavs 69
Cavs Love, Love(3) LeBron, Thompson(1)
Thunder Westbrook, Durant, Westbrook
3 Score Thunder 79 Cavs 78
Cavs Williams(3) Love, Irving, Korver
Thunder Thabeet(1) Thabeet, Ibaka
Kevin Love with 7 in the last 6 and we've got a stretch run coming in game 2.
4 Qtr
9 Cavs 86 Thunder 85
Cavs Korver, LeBron, Frye, Frye
Thunder Westbrook, Martin, Jackson
6 Thunder 101 Cavs 91
Cavs Love, Love(3)
Thunder Jackson, Durant, Martin, Westbrook(3) Ibaka, Sefolosha, Martin(3)
Huge OKC run in the last 3 minutes and it looks like they are about to advance.
3 Thunder 109 Cavs 93
Cavs Irving
Thunder Sefolosha, Durant, Durant, Sefolosha
F Score Thunder 114 Cavs 102
Cavs Andersen(1) Williams, McRae(3) Williams(3)
Thunder Liggins(3) Jones,
Kevin Love with 24/11, LeBron had 14 boards but just 19 points - the Thunder take both games and head to the Region 4 Semi,
Westbrook: 29 pts/8 assists-Player of the Game(1)
Durant: 19 pts/9 boards/7 assists(3)
Ibaka: 17 pts/15 boards
Martin: 13 pts/7 boards
Sefolosha: 11 pts/6 boards
Durant now slides into the All Region Team:
All Region Team
C Robinson ('95 Spurs-3 PotG)
F Durant ('13 Thunder-3 PotG)
F Kemp ('95 Sonics-2 PotG)
G Payton ('95 Sonics-2 PotG)
G Jordan ('92 Bulls-2PotG)
2. 1989 NBA CHAMPION DETROIT PISTONS v. 10. 1972 EAST CHAMPION NY KNICKS
Pistons: 63-19, 1st Cen Div, 7th Off, 3rd Def
d. Celtics East 1st Rnd 3-0
d. Bucks East Semis 4-0
d. Bulls East Finals 4-2
d. Lakers NBA Finals 4-0
#29 overall seed
d. '03 Lakers (2-1, Aguirre, Dumars-PotG)
Coach: Chuck Daly
Starters
C Bill Laimbeer (31 Notre Dame) 13.7 PPG 16.6 PER 9 Win Shares 3.4
F Rick Mahorn (30 Hampton) 7.3 12.1 4.6 1.1
F Dennis Rodman (27 SE Oklahoma St) 9 16.3 8.1 2.3
G Isiah Thomas (27 Indiana) 18.2 17.1 7 3.4
G Joe Dumars (25 McNeese St) 17.2 16.8 7 2.9
Rotation Reserves
C James Edwards (33 Washington) 7.3 11.6 2.8 -.2
F John Salley (24 Geo Tech) 7 12.4 3.5 1
F Mark Aguirre (29 DePaul) 15.5 15.1 2.8 .8
G Vinnie Johnson (32 Baylor) 13.8 17.3 5.9 2.2
G Adrian Dantley (33 Notre Dame) 18.4 18.2 5.3 1.4
Leaders: Laimbeer 3rd Def Reb, 3rd Def Reb %, 4th Def Rating
Rodman 1st FG%, Eff FG%, 3rd Reb %
Johnson 5th TO%
The World Champion Pistons are the first team we've seen in Rnd 2 not to have a player on any All NBA Team; they've got no 20 PER, no double digit WS - what they have is wild depth; 29 year old Aguirre and 33 year old Dantley both coming off the bench, Danley leading the team in PER, 31 year old Laimbeer in Win Shares.
Knicks: 48-34, 2nd East Div, 7th Off, 6th Def
d. Bullets 4-2 East Semis
d. Celtics East Finals 4-1
lost Lakers NBA Finals 4-1
#157 overall seed
d. '96 Jazz (2-0, Reed 2 PotG)
Coach: Red Holtzman
Starters
C Jerry Lucas 31-Ohio St 16.7 PPG 19.4 PER 11.2 Win Shares
F Dave DeBusschere (31 Detroit Mercy) 15.4 15 4.8
F Bill Bradley 28 Princeton 15.1 12.9 5.4
G Walt Frazier (26 So Illinois) 23.2 21.6 14.5
G Earl Monroe 27-Winston Salem 11.4 14.9 2.4
Rotation Reserves
C Willis Reed 29-Grambling 13.4 13.7 .6
F Phil Jackson-26 N Dakota 7.2 13.7 3.2
F Dave Stallworth (30 Wichita St) 6.8 12.1 .2
G Dean Meminger 23-Marquette 4.6 10.3 2.2
G Dick Barnett 35-Tenn St 12.2 10.9 2.6
Leaders: Frazier 1st Team All NBA, 3rd WS, 3rd WS/48, 5th Trip Doub
Lucas 5th FG%, 5th Eff FG% 5th Trip Doub
We lost the 1970 Knicks since Rnd 1, the simulation no longer supports them; we sub in the '72 team (not as good) that lost to the Lakers in the Finals. 26 year old Frazier leads the way.
Matchup:
C Lucas (Knicks)
F DeBusschere (Knicks)
F Rodman (Pistons)
G Frazier (Knicks)
G Dumars (Pistons)
Bench: Pistons
Gm 1
1Qtr
9 Knicks 9 Pistons 6
Pistons Mahorn, Laimbeer, Isiah
Knicks Monroe, Monroe, DeBusschere, Frazier(3)
6 Knicks 15 Pistons 8
Pistons Rodman
Knicks Frazier, Monroe, Frazier
OKC awaits the winner; the replacement Knicks team off to a good start.
3 Knicks 25 Pistons 14
Pistons Aguirre, Laimbeer, Dumars
Knicks DeBusschere, DeBusschere, Bradley, Bradley, Lucas
1 q Score Knicks 29 Pistons 20
Pistons Dantley, Mahorn, Salley
Knicks Stallworth, Jackson
Knicks solid on both ends of the floor.
2 Qtr
9 Knicks 32 Pistons 29
Pistons Aguirre(3) Dantley, Aguirre, Johnson
Knicks DeBusschere(1) Frazier
6 Pistons 39 Knicks 35
Pistons Aguirre, Isiah(3) Rodman, Aguirre(3)
Knicks Stallworth(3)
10 for Mark Aguirre to open the 2nd, Pistons up 4.
3 Pistons 51 Knicks 41
Pistons Rodman(1) Laimbeer, Isiah, Mahorn, Mahorn, Dantley(3)
Knicks Bradley(3) Bradley
H Score Pistons 57 Knicks 46
Pistons Dumars, Dumars, Mahorn
Knicks Reed(3) Monroe
Pistons starting to stretch now, Mahorn with a half dozen in the last 6.
3 Qtr
9 Pistons 61 Knicks 56
Pistons Aguirre, Johnson
Knicks Frazier, DeBusschere(1) Reed, Bradley(3) Lucas
6 Pistons 69 Knicks 63
Pistons Dumars, Salley, Isiah, Dantley
Knicks DeBusschere, Stallworth(3) Lucas
New York hits a couple 3 balls, down 6.
3 Pistons 74 Knicks 65
Pistons Dantley, Laimbeer(3)
Knicks Monroe
3 Score Pistons 85 Knicks 67
Pistons Aguirre, Laimbeer, Dantley, Johnson(3) Rodman
Knicks Meminger
The Bad Boys lock down on the Knicks and we've got a blowout.
4 Qtr
9 Pistons 91 Knicks 74
Pistons Edwards, Edwards, Mahorn
Knicks Frazier, Bradley(3) Barnett
6 Pistons 96 Knicks 80
Pistons Mahorn(1) Mahorn, Aguirre
Knicks Monroe(3) Lucas(1) DeBusschere
We'll be headed to MSG, Pistons looking to close.
3 Pistons 100 Knicks 88
Pistons Salley, Aguirre
Knicks Barnett, Lucas, Monroe, DeBusschere
F Score Pistons 107 Knicks 98
Pistons Isiah, Mahorn, Laimbeer, Williams(1)
Knicks Riordan(3) DeBusschere, Bradley, Riordan(3)
Second quarter of this one was the story, Pistons 37 Knicks 17. Aguirre is PotG off the bench for the second time.
Aguirre: 20 pts/5 boards-Player of the Game(2)
Isiah: 11 pts/9 assists/4 steals
Laimbeer: 13 pts/6 boards
Mahorn: 17 pts/7 boards
Rodman: 7 pts/19 boards
Dantley: 13 pts/7 boards
Frazier: 13 pts/10 boards
Lucas: 9 pts/12 boards/6 assists
DeBusschere: 16 pts/7 boards
Bradley: 18 pts
Monroe: 15 pts/4 steals
Gm 2
1Qtr
9 Pistons 8 Knicks 5
Knicks DeBusschere, Frazier(3)
Pistons Laimbeer, Mahorn, Laimbeer, Laimbeer
6 Pistons 13 Knicks 12
Knicks DeBusschere, Lucas(3) Barnett
Pistons Mahorn, Rodman(3)
Pistons win and they face the Thunder in the Region 4 Semi-final.
3 Pistons 17 Knicks 16
Knicks Lucas, Frazier
Pistons Mahorn, Laimbeer
1 q Score Pistons 26 Knicks 22
Knicks Lucas(1) Lucas(3) Lucas
Pistons Aguirre, Aguirre, Aguirre(3) Rodman
Jerry Lucas with 11 in the first, but Pistons lead by 4.
2 Qtr
9 Knicks 30 Pistons 28
Knicks Reed, Bradley, DeBusschere, Meminger
Pistons Johnson
6 Knicks 37 Pistons 32
Knicks Bradley(3) Frazier, Stallworth
Pistons Isiah(3) Isiah(1)
MSG is going off - 5 for Bradley to open the quarter, Knicks now lead.
3 Knicks 42 Pistons 20
Knicks DeBusschere(3) Monroe
Pistons Mahorn, Rodman, Rodman, Isiah
H Score Pistons 49 Knicks 46
Knicks Lucas, Bradley
Pistons Dumars, Aguirre, Aguirre, Dumars(3)
Dumars with a 3 at the buzzer and the Pistons take the lead.
3 Qtr
9 Pistons 56 Knicks 51
Knicks Barnett, Jackson(3)
Pistons Laimbeer, Dumars, Rodman(3)
6 Pistons 62 Knicks 59
Knicks Jackson(3) Monroe, Monroe(3)
Pistons Rodman, Isiah, Isiah
Phil Jackson with 6 to open the half, we are close.
3 Pistons 66 Knicks 62
Knicks Meminger(3)
Pistons Johnson, Mahorn
3 Score Pistons 72 Knicks 71
Knicks Frazier(1) Monroe, Bradley, Frazier, Reed
Pistons Laimbeer, Mahorn, Dumars
We are set up for a good stretch run in game 2.
4 Qtr
9 Pistons 82 Knicks 79
Knicks DeBusschere(3) Bradley, Monroe(3)
Pistons Rodman, Rodman, Dantley, Isiah, Dumars
6 Pistons 93 Knicks 85
Knicks Stallworth, Frazier, Monroe
Pistons Dumars, Aguirre, Dumars, Edwards(3) Rodman
Detroit's got a good advantage now and are looking to end this.
3 Pistons 98 Knicks 88
Knicks DeBusschere, Frazier(1)
Pistons Isiah, Dumars, Rodman(1)
F Score Pistons 103 Knicks 95
Knicks Monroe(3) DeBusschere, Fazier
Pistons Dumars(3) Isiah
Like OKC, the Pistons head to the Regional Semi unbeaten.
Rodman: 21 pts/13 boards-Player of the Game(1)
Isiah: 16 pts/10 assists/7 boards
Dumars: 20 pts/8 assists(1)
Laimbeer: 12 pts/16 boards
Mahorn: 12 pts/8 boards
Aguirre: 13 pts(2)
2. 1989 NBA CHAMPION DETROIT PISTONS v. 3. 2013 NW DIV CHAMP OKC THUNDER
Matchup:
C Laimbeer (Pistons)
F Ibaka (Thunder)
F Durant (Thunder)
G Westbrook (Thunder)
G Dumars (Pistons)
Bench: Pistons
Gm 1
1Qtr
9 Thunder 7 Pistons 6
Pistons Rodman, Mahorn, Dumars
Thunder Collison, Ibaka, Martin(3)
6 Pistons 15 Thunder 14
Pistons Mahorn, Isiah(3) Mahorn, Laimbeer
Thunder Westbrook(3) Collison, Collison
Region 4 Semi number 2 - the '95 Sonics won the top half; we kick off this series.
3 Pistons 25 Thunder 16
Pistons Dumars, Laimbeer, Dantley, Rodman, Isiah
Thunder Martin
1 q Score Pistons 35 Thunder 28
Pistons Salley, Dantley, Dantley, Johnson, Edwards
Thunder Westbrook, Thabeet(3) Thabeet, Lamb(3) Jackson
How about the Pistons offense? Detroit is a deep team, going up against the Thunder's Hall of Fame attack - Pistons up early.
2 Qtr
9 Pistons 41 Thunder 33
Pistons Johnson, Aguirre, Isiah
Thunder Jackson, Martin, Sefolosha(1)
6 Pistons 43 Thunder 41
Pistons Isiah
Thunder Westbrook, Westbrook, Martin, Durant
Durant finally gets a bucket - good sign for the Thunder, he has just two and they trail by just 2.
3 Pistons 48 Thunder 46
Pistons Rodman(1) Laimbeer, Aguirre
Thunder Westbrook(3) Durant
H Score Pistons 52 Thunder 46
Pistons Isiah, Salley
Thunder
That Pistons defense locking up Durant, he has just 4.
3 Qtr
9 Pistons 54 Thunder 52
Pistons Dumars
Thunder Ibaka, Martin, Perkins
6 Pistons 62 Thunder 56
Pistons Johnson, Laimbeer, Johnson, Rodman
Thunder Martin, Westbrook
Dennis Rodman guarding KD, who has 3 PotG in the Thunder's 4 wins, just 4 points.
3 Pistons 69 Thunder 60
Pistons Johnson, Dumars, Isiah(3)
Thunder Durant, Sefolosha
3 Score Pistons 78 Thunder 67
Pistons Isiah, Salley, Dumars, Aguirre(1) Dantley
Thunder Durant(3) Thabeet, Westbrook
12 to go - solid Pistons lead, strong defensive effort.
4 Qtr
9 Pistons 83 Thunder 71
Pistons Salley(1) Rodman, Rodman
Thunder Jackson, Durant
6 Pistons 89 Thunder 75
Pistons Aguirre, Laimbeer, Rodman
Thunder Westbrook, Durant
It's the Pistons.
3 Pistons 93 Thunder 78
Pistons Aguirre, Laimbeer
Thunder Durant(3)
F Score Pistons 105 Thunder 85
Pistons Rowinski(3) Dawkins(1) Williams, Williams, Dembo, Rowinski
Thunder Liggins, Jones(1) Maynor(1) Maynor(3)
Score one for the 1980s - the Bad Boy Pistons really throttle OKC.
Isiah: 16 pts/9 assists/4 steals-Player of the Game(1)
Rodman: 13 pts/13 boards(1)
Laimbeer: 12 pts/10 boards
Dumars: 10 pts(1)
Johnson: 10 pts
Durant: 16 pts/5 assists
Westbrook: 18 pts/5 boards/5 assists
Martin: 13 pts
1Qtr
9 Thunder 7 Pistons 3
Thunder Durant, Westbrook(3)
Pistons Mahorn, Dumars(1)
6 Thunder 14 Pistons 10
Thunder Ibaka(3) Durant, Martin
Pistons Isiah, Mahorn(3) Rodman
OKC home looking to stay alive.
3 Thunder 27 Pistons 18
Thunder Martin(3) Martin(3) Westbrook, Martin(3) Ibaka
Pistons Edwards, Dumars, Isiah, Dantley
1 q Score Thunder 37 Pistons 24
Thunder Martin(1) Westbrook, Orton, Orton, Orton(3)
Pistons Salley, Dumars, Dawkins
How about Daniel Orton, not in the rotation - scoring OKCs last 7 points, big start for the Thunder.
2 Qtr
9 Thunder 41 Pistons 32
Thunder Durant, Durant
Pistons Dantley, Johnson, Dantley, Rodman
6 Thunder 46 Pistons 43
Thunder Durant, Durant(3)
Pistons Salley, Johnson, Salley(1) Dantley, Johnson, Aguirre
9 for KD to open the second, but the Pistons are charging.
3 Thunder 52 Pistons 43
Thunder Durant, Durant, Sefolosha
Pistons
H Score Thunder 61 Pistons 48
Thunder Ibaka, Collison, Jackson(3) Ibaka
Pistons Salley(1) Rodman, Rodman
Big half for OKC, Durant with 13 second qtr points - the Thunder are looking to force the showdown game.
3 Qtr
9 Thunder 71 Pistons 56
Thunder Ibaka, Westbrook, Westbrook(3) Sefolosha(3)
Pistons Johnson, Mahorn, Edwards, Isiah
6 Thunder 73 Pistons 56
Thunder Collison
Pistons
Score one for modern basketball, the Thunder steamrolling the Pistons.
3 Thunder 79 Pistons 61
Thunder Durant, Durant, Collison
Pistons Rodman(1) Dumars, Laimbeer
3 Score Thunder 85 Pistons 63
Thunder Westbrook, Martin, Westbrook
Pistons Isiah
We'll be heading back to Detroit.
4 Qtr
9 Thunder 92 Pistons 70
Thunder Sefolosha(3) Westbrook, Thabeet
Pistons Mahorn, Mahorn, Isiah, Laimbeer(1)
6 Thunder 87 Pistons 77
Thunder Durant, Durant(3)
Pistons Rodman(1) Salley, Isiah, Laimbeer
Home teams dominating so far - one more game for all of it back in Motown.
3 Thunder 101 Pistons 77
Thunder Sefolosha, Martin
Pistons
F Score Thunder 103 Pistons 86
Thunder Jones
Pistons Dembo(3) Dembo(3) Williams(3)
A whipping.
Durant: 26 pts/8 boards/5 assists-Player of the Game(4)
Westbrook: 18 pts/9 assists
Ibaka: 13 pts/5 boards/7 blocks
Martin: 16 pts
Sefolosha: 10 pts/5 boards
Isiah: 12 pts/6 assists
Rodman: 10 pts/10 boards
Mahorn: 11 pts
1Qtr
9 Thunder 8 Pistons 7
Pistons Rodman(3) Mahorn, Isiah
Thunder Durant, Ibaka, Ibaka, Westbrook
6 Pistons 16 Thunder 13
Pistons Dumars, Rodman, Isiah(3) Dumars
Thunder Martin, Durant(3)
One game to close down Rnd 3, Region 4 and send us to Region 5.
3 Pistons 22 Thunder 17
Pistons Mahorn, Dumars, Rodman
Thunder Durant, Durant
1 q Score Pistons 27 Thunder 22
Pistons Isiah(3) Salley
Thunder Sefolosha(3) Jackson
Durant with 9, Isiah with 8 - Hall of Famers stepping up in the must win.
2 Qtr
9 Pistons 29 Thunder 28
Pistons Dantley
Thunder Westbrook, Durant, Durant
6 Thunder 32 Pistons 31
Pistons Aguirre
Thunder Durant, Sefolosha
Slow start for Detroit in the 2nd.
3 Pistons 44 Thunder 34
Pistons Rodman, Salley, Salley, Rodman, Salley, Dumars(3)
Thunder Westbrook
H Score Pistons 48 Thunder 44
Pistons Aguirre, Dantley,
Thunder Jackson, Westbrook(3) Martin(3) Ibaka
Salley has that big 3 minute stretch with 6 pts - we finally get a good one, being played at the Pistons pace.
3 Qtr
9 Pistons 56 Thunder 50
Pistons Laimbeer, Mahorn, Edwards, Dantley
Thunder Ibaka, Durant, Thabeet
6 Pistons 62 Thunder 59
Thunder Durant, Collison, Durant(3) Durant
Pistons Isiah, Laimbeer, Salley
9 for Durant to open the second half.
3 Pistons 66 Thunder 65
Pistons Dantley, Dantley
Thunder Jackson, Ibaka, Westbrook
3 Score Pistons 75 Thunder 70
Pistons Rodman, Mahorn, Laimbeer(3) Mahorn
Thunder Westbrook, Durant
OKC had a 1 point lead, but the Pistons ripped off the next 7. 12 left.
4 Qtr
9 Pistons 84 Thunder 77
Pistons Dumars, Dumars, Isiah, Dumars(1) Dumars
Thunder Lamb, Martin, Durant(1) Westbrook
6 Pistons 87 Thunder 81
Pistons Dantley(1) Edwards
Thunder Ibaka, Perkins
Dumars opens the 4th with 7 in 3 minutes.
3 Pistons 93 Thunder 91
Pistons Aguirre, Laimbeer, Laimbeer
Thunder Westbrook, Durant(3) Durant, Martin(3)
Kevin Martin triples to bring the Pistons within 2.
Durant steals the ball, gets hard fouled by Rodman, 80s style - hits 1 FT.
Laimbeer misses at 2:36.
Westbrook drives and scores and at 2:25 - the Thunder take the lead.
2:13: DET: Zeke, just outside the paint.
:49: DET: No one scores for a minute and a half until Rodman hits a turnaround to make it 97-94.
:26:OKC: It's Martin, 11 footer as the shot clock expires. 1 point game
OKC looking for a stop - again it's Isiah, baseline floater and it's 99-96.
Thunder need a 3 to send this to OT.
It's Westbrook, from the top. Clock goes to 0.
Missed.
We get a good one; OKC went up 1 with under 2:30 but just scored one more bucket and lost. 34 in the losing effort for KD
Final: Pistons 99 Thunder 96
Laimbeer: 11 pts/18 boards/4 blocks-Player of the Game
Isiah: 16 pts/9 assists
Rodman: 15 pts/14 boards
Dumars: 16 pts/6 assists
Mahorn: 10 pts/10 boards
Dantley: 11 pts
Salley: 10 pts/7 boards
All Region Team
C Robinson ('95 Spurs-3 PotG)
F Durant ('13 Thunder-4 PotG)
F Kemp ('95 Sonics-2 PotG)
G Payton ('95 Sonics-2 PotG)
G Jordan ('92 Bulls-2PotG)
4 Regional Finals Set:
Region 1: 2004 Spurs v. 1980 Lakers
Region 2: 2017 Spurs v. 2019 Rockets
Region 3: 2011 Bulls v. 1997 Sonics
Region 4: 1989 Pistons v. 1995 Sonics
8 in the field of 32. 24 to go.
