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Final Score: Oklahoma City Thunder 106, San Antonio Spurs 97
What Happened:
Serge Ibaka returned.
In turn, the Oklahoma City Thunder are back as well.
Ibaka rejuvenated the entire Oklahoma City team on both ends, providing an emotional surge (pun slightly intended) which helped the Thunder find their identity once again - avoiding a catastrophic 3-0 hole against the veteran San Antonio Spurs.
First things first, the Spurs were forced into contested jump shots for the first time in the entire series. With Ibaka plugging the paint, the Spurs couldn't continue slicing and dicing their way to the rim at will.
In the first two games of the series, the Spurs scored more than half (120-of-234) of their points in the key. That wasn't the case on Sunday as the Spurs only scored 40 of their 97 points in the Thunder blue.
Because of that, the Spurs had to hang around in the mid-range as Thunder defenders closed out on them with intensity and efficiency. The Spurs couldn't adjust and the offense floundered.
The second big reason why the Thunder were able to turn this ship around? Rebounding.
With their spacing completely back to the way that their comfortable with it, the Thunder crashed the glass - firmly beating San Antonio to the tune of 52 to 36 on the boards.
Ibaka? Check. Defensive intensity and form? Check. Rebounding? Check.
Thunder victory? Check.
Where do we go from here:
Ladies and gentlemen, there is a Western Conference Finals series going on. This Oklahoma City Thunder was constructed to compete with this Spurs team.
Basically, we're in for some fun.
As long as Ibaka's calf remains healthy and the Thunder come into Game 4 with the same fire that seemed to be pulsing from the Chesapeake Energy Arena on Sunday, we could very well go back to San Antonio for Game 5 all knotted up at two games apiece.
However, we would be silly to forget who coaches the Spurs (Gregg "I make David Aldridge uncomfortable" Popopvich), and the battle-tested roster of the defending Western Conference champions. The Spurs will be ready to fight like it's a Game 7 on Tuesday.
As it looks now, the Thunder will be more than happy to oblige.
Game 4 is at 9:00 p.m. EST on Sunday night, and will be broadcast on TNT. Stay tuned to Chat Sports for all the latest from Oklahoma City.
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