Kanter leads Thunder past Heat
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[November 08, 2016]
OKLAHOMA CITY -- There are going
to be nights when Russell Westbrook isn't superman. It doesn't
happen often, but it does occur.
When it happens, the Oklahoma City Thunder need other players to
step up their game and carry the load. That was the case Monday
night with the Thunder taking on the Miami Heat.
Enes Kanter scored 24 points off the bench to lead Oklahoma City to
a 97-85 victory at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.
It was the second consecutive game in which Kanter hit double
figures in points and rebounds while bringing boundless energy off
the bench.
"Not just me, but when the second unit comes, Coach wants us to
bring a lot of energy," Kanter said. "I think that's what we were
trying to do tonight. Tonight and every night."
Kanter shot 10 of 12 from the floor and 4 of 4 from the free-throw
line while hauling in 10 rebounds in only 21 minutes of action.
Victor Oladipo scored 17 points, while rookie Domantas Sabonis
scored a career-high 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Westbrook had his lowest scoring output of the season, 14 points.
However, he handed out 11 assists, which was more than all of the
Heat starters combined. The Thunder (6-1) are now off to their best
start since the franchise moved to Oklahoma City.
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James Johnson paced the Heat (2-4) with 18 points off the bench.
Goran Dragic was held to 11 points on 5-of-12 shooting. Luke Babbitt
also added 11 points and four rebounds. Hassan Whiteside tallied
five points and 12 boards.
"It's tough to say what the biggest challenge was," Miami coach Erik
Spoelstra said. "The physicality. Their opportunities in the paint
created some rough offensive possession. We simply have to get
better, and we will. But they really set the pulse of the game."
The Thunder got a scare midway through the first quarter when center
Steven Adams hurried off the court pressing his right hand against
his side. He went back to the locker room and returned a few minutes
later with his hand taped up.
Even without Adams, the Thunder continued to attack the paint with
Kanter. He came off the bench and went at Whiteside and the Heat
frontcourt, posting 10 points and four rebounds in the opening
quarter to give the Thunder a 39-28 advantage.
The Heat didn't shoot particularly well in the first half. They
tried to stay within striking distance by running down loose balls
and offensive boards while also taking advantage of Oklahoma City
turnovers.
Westbrook, who made his first two shots of the game, ended the half
missing eight straight, yet the Thunder still led 55-47.
Oklahoma City came out of the break on fire. Led by Westbrook and
Sabonis, they began the third quarter on a 20-0 run.
Despite the score getting out of hand, the intensity picked up as
Westbrook and Dragic both dived for a loose ball and Dragic rolled
onto Westbrook. They got up shoving each other and had to be
separated.
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![](../images/110816pics/sports71.jpg)
Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives to the basket against
Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) during the first quarter at
Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY
Sports
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Miami was unable to get any easy shots against Oklahoma City's
defense. Andre Roberson made life tough for the Heat wing players
with suffocating defense.
Kanter then got in a pushing match with several members of the Heat,
which got Westbrook off the bench screaming encouragements to
Kanter.
"We've got bigs that are able to compete at a high level," Westbrook
said. "He ain't going to do the talking, but I'm going to do the
talking for him. A lot of my guys don't talk much. As a leader of
this team, my job is to support my teammates and instill confidence
in those guys and their game."
The Thunder took a 22-point lead into the fourth quarter. The Heat
never made a serious run after that as Westbrook sat out the fourth
quarter for the second straight game.
"That's great," Westbrook said of sitting out the fourth. "If we can
do that all year, that would be great with me. Rest is always good,
but it's always good to see that we're doing a good job of putting
teams away early."
Oklahoma City won the rebounding battle 47-41. They also collected
12 more assists than the Heat, who shot 36.9 percent from the field
to the Thunder's 43.5 percent.
"Guys were missing shots they normally would make," Whiteside said,
"me being one of them. So it was just a tough night shooting. We are
going to come back, regroup and get ready for the Bulls."
NOTES: Oklahoma City G Russell Westbrook was asked before Monday's
game about the shot-blocking prowess of Miami's Hassan Whiteside and
if it would make him more careful about attacking the rim. "I'm not
scared of anybody," Westbrook said. ... Miami G Dion Waiters
reflected on his trip to the playoffs last year with the Thunder. "I
smelled the Finals," Waiters said. "I was too close, man. That's why
I hate talking about it. I couldn't even watch it." ... With
Oklahoma City G Cameron Payne still recovering from a fracture in
his right foot, coach Billy Donovan said he's learning how to take
care of himself. "He has a great opportunity to focus in on his
body," Donovan said. "Generally your nutrition at that age is
predicated on you're playing all the time. Now that he doesn't have
playing, he is starting to understand a little more about
nutrition."
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