The Oklahoma City Thunder got even with the San Antonio Spurs with their second straight easy win, tying the Western Conference finals, 2-2.
Once again, this was a vastly different game than the ones played in San Antonio, as the Thunder dominated throughout.
Westbrook’s amazing game
Russell Westbrook finished with 40 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and five steals. The Elias Sports Bureau notes that he’s the second player to have a 40-point, 10-assist, five-steal game in postseason play, the first since Michael Jordan in 1989.
This was Westbrook's third 30-point, 10-assist game this postseason. Elias notes that only three players have had more such games in a single postseason -- Jordan with seven in 1989, Jerry West for the Los Angeles Lakers with six in 1970 and Oscar Robertson with five for the 1963 Cincinnati Royals.
Westbrook’s 40 points were one more than the total scored by the Spurs' starting five.
Durant plays Robin to Westbrook’s Batman
Kevin Durant also had a huge game for the Thunder, finishing with 31 points.
Per Elias, Westbrook and Durant each scored 30 points and shot at least 50 percent in a playoff game together for the third time. The only other teammates to do that multiple times in the postseason together over the past 10 years are LeBron James and Dwyane Wade (three times) along with Tony Parker and Tim Duncan (twice)
It's the third time in 71 postseason games together that Durant and Westbrook had no turnovers in the first half. It's the first time they've ever combined for at least 30 points and zero turnovers in the first half of a playoff game.
Difference-maker: transition play
The Thunder outscored the Spurs 29-6 in transition and 21-0 in fast-break points.
Thunder versus Spurs
Differentials
The Thunder had 24 transition points before the Spurs had any.
OKC made 11 of its 18 transition shots. San Antonio only attempted three such shots in the game, making two.
Entering the game, the Spurs and Thunder had each scored 37 points in transition, with the Thunder logging just two more plays in those situations.
Popovich can’t win in Oklahoma City
The Spurs have lost nine straight games to the Thunder in Oklahoma City, including the regular season and playoffs. That is the longest road losing streak for the Spurs against any team under Gregg Popovich.
Oddity of the night
Manu Ginobili scored five points for the Spurs. He now has 2,674 career playoff points, surpassing NBA legend Bill Russell for the most playoff points by a left-handed player.
Former Spurs star David Robinson ranks third with 2,221.
Looking ahead
The Game 5 winner of a tied best-of-seven series goes on to win the series 82 percent of the time.