WASHINGTON -- The Thunder’s defense kept the game close until the final minutes, but the issues that thwarted the team all night were the ones that did them in down the stretch.
On the third game in four nights of a challenging Detroit-Oklahoma City-Washington, D.C. sequence of games, the Thunder turned the ball over 21 times, including a critical one by Josh Huestis with the game tied with 39.4 seconds remaining. On the ensuing Thunder possession Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony rushed to get a two-for-one, and Anthony’s midrange jumper missed. After both possessions, the Thunder committed unfortunate fouls in the backcourt, resulting in four free throws as a part of an 8-0 Wizards run to end a 102-96 Thunder loss.