Canadian bakin’
For some reason, the Thunder have had no particular problem scorching the Raptors this season. Last time, at the Ford Center, I figured it was due to temporary Boshlessness; but tonight in Toronto, Chris Bosh was in good form (22 points, 10 rebounds), and still the Raptors were boiled, 115-89. Since Toronto averages something like two thousand points a game, this seems hard to explain, but we’ll try.
Wednesday against the Hawks, Jay Triano reinstated Jose Calderon as the starting point guard, leaving Jarrett Jack to come off the bench, and Toronto won that one; tonight, though, Calderon was held to a mere four points, and he gave up three turnovers. Jack had only two points, but he had seven assists. Reliable Andrea Bargnani came up with 15 points, and reserve sharpshooter Marco Belinelli had 12, but the Raptors weren’t scoring in the paint, and the Thunder controlled the boards, 53-37, including 20 off the offensive glass. Toronto didn’t need that many stops — the Thunder shot an indifferent 41.6 percent — and by gum, they didn’t get them.
Kevin Durant got his 31 points in 31 minutes and change; 17 of those came from 18 free throws. Jeff Green wound up with 25; Russell Westbrook squeaked into another double-double (11 points, 10 dimes) in 26 minutes. With the reserves getting plenty of work — even Etan Thomas was unglued from the bench — we got to see Kyle Weaver draining the treys (four of five) and D. J. White clearing the boards (five rebounds, three offensive), which is always fun.
I’d argue that it’s, well, the East, and OKC is 20-7 against the East; then again, that didn’t mean a thing against the Bobcats on Wednesday.
Up next: the Pacers on Sunday afternoon, and then back home on Monday to take on the Spurs.
