Brooklyn Nets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Takeaways and Grades

The Brooklyn Nets braved Winter Storm Stella to face the Russell Westbrook-led Oklahoma City Thunder at home on Tuesday night. OKC was too much for Brooklyn in the second half, notching the 122-104 victory.

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Team Stats

Field goal shooting/percentage

• Nets: 33-71 (46.5%)
• Thunder: 44-87 (50.6%)

Three-point shooting/percentage

• Nets: 12-24 (50.0%)
• Thunder: 10-22 (45.5%)

Rebounds

• Nets: 30
• Thunder: 44

Assists

• Nets: 20
• Thunder: 30

Steals

• Nets: 8
• Thunder: 13

Blocks

• Nets: 4
• Thunder: 6

Turnovers

• Nets: 20
• Thunder: 15

Fouls

• Nets: 23
• Thunder: 27

Free throws

• Nets: 26-30
• Thunder: 24-34

Points in paint

• Nets: 40
• Thunder: 48

Fast break points

• Nets: 20
• Thunder: 21

Bench points

• Nets: 41
• Thunder: 20

Largest lead

• Nets: 18
• Thunder: 3

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Key Plays

In the first half, the Nets were pounded in the paint. Thunder forward Taj Gibson had several easy baskets early, using his size against Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. With “MVP” chants reigning in from the Barclays Center, Russell Westbrook was his usual dominant self, putting Oklahoma City up through the second quarter. But the Nets thawed out of their cold spell, coming alive as the second quarter came to a close. The Nets’ run was sparked by a Brook Lopez and-1 layup. On the next play, Caris LeVert stole the ball and finished with a thunderous (no pun intended) dunk. Jeremy Lin extended the run with a funky layup. The Nets ended the first half tied, 62-62.

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Brooklyn could not keep up with OKC in the second half. With Westbrook out, the Nets could not capitalize, seeing Oklahoma City take an eight-point lead as the third quarter closed. OKC played the Nets aggressively, fighting on the offensive boards and winning the loose ball battles. In the fourth, the Nets simply could not keep up, looking disjointed. Isaiah Whitehead turned the ball over two times in a row, as the Thunder lead extended to double digits. The Nets tried to make a run in the fourth led by Jeremy Lin, but they could not stop Westbrook and the Thunder on the defensive end.

Top Performers

Brooklyn Nets

• Brook Lopez: 25 points, 6 rebounds
• Jeremy Lin: 24 points, 5 assists

Oklahoma City Thunder

• Russell Westbrook: 25 points, 12 rebounds, 19 assists
• Victor Oladipo: 21 points, 3 rebounds, 4 steals