The Thunder were down 28-19 with about a minute and a half remaining in the first quarter when Kevin Durant changed the fortunes of his team, and possibly the future of his franchise. Everyone keeps saying OKC is a year away, and it’s all about Dirk, but after tonight’s victory to split the games in Dallas, I’m not sure anymore. On the play in question—which you can find at NBA Offseason—Durant hesitates at the top of the three point line, takes one dribble past arthritic Peja, and as he passes the top of the key decides he’s going to jump over Brenden Haywood. When others might have twisted around Haywood or felt the contact and lofted one up, Durant—all of 230 lbs.—smashed it down on him so forcefully, it smacked his sleep-walking Oklahoma City teammates up.
It was a more difficult and timely than that other dunk I keep hearing about.
Eric Maynor and James Harden’s timely shooting in the 4th sealed the win for the Thunder, and we might have a miffed Russell Westbrook quote or two (he sat the 4th), but the the rest of the bench’s offensive production (50 points total) and the team’s defense brought in the win.
None of that would have happened if Kevin Durant hadn’t decided to nipple-slap Heywood’s face while those spider arms slammed the ball home.