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00:00Johnson for NBA halftime presented by Kia.
00:0465-44.
00:07Gilgis Alexander a rare off half in terms of shooting,
00:10but made a couple of sensational plays downhill,
00:13finishing with the left hand.
00:15And the thunder up big at halftime in OKC in game one.
00:27NBA playoffs presented by Google.
00:30We're here in Oklahoma City for the first round presented by Popeyes.
00:33The Thunder led by as many as 25.
00:36It's a 21-point advantage as we get ready to start the third quarter.
00:40First half stats brought to you by New Balance.
00:42Balance scoring for the Thunder.
00:44Holmgren 16, Gilgis Alexander 15, Jalen Williams 11.
00:48Dave Pasch, Doris Burke, and Malik Andrews.
00:51And Doris, we could talk all day about their offense,
00:53but the defense remains outstanding.
00:5530% shooting for Phoenix.
00:56You just talked about the balance on the offensive end.
00:59It's balance up and down the roster on the defensive end as well.
01:03I mean, you're bringing Alex Caruso, Jay Will,
01:06Kayson Wallace all off the bench.
01:08And just watch, folks, how quickly the recovery is
01:12from the weak side by check.
01:13And then the speed.
01:15Kayson Wallace, lock and trail.
01:16And then watch this.
01:18I mean, we talk about changing end-to-ends.
01:21They forced 10 turnovers, gotten 19 points off,
01:24and it happens quick.
01:27Dylan Brooks and Jalen Green combined for just 6 of 23 from the floor
01:32with four turnovers.
01:33Devin Booker had 13, but going to need a lot of help.
01:38Holmgren misses the three to start the third.
01:44Game two on Wednesday.
01:46Brooks short on the three.
01:47And Booker saves underneath to O'Neal.
01:53On the baseline, Green hits.
01:55Well, if you consider that Jalen Green and Dylan Brooks were combined 6 for 23,
02:01that's a good start for Jalen.
02:03We talked about his ability as a shot maker.
02:05You've got to find a way.
02:07Jalen Williams from the corner is three.
02:09No good.
02:10Rebound, Brooks.
02:11Let's check in with Malika.
02:12Dave, you'll notice that Royce O'Neal is out on the floor,
02:15and that's because Jordan Goodwin has been ruled out of the remainder of this game
02:19with left calf soreness, and he will not return here.
02:23I spoke with Jordan O'Neal.
02:24He says they're going to be leaning on O'Neal, Brooks even in that foul trouble,
02:27and what they're looking to do here is create more opportunities to score.
02:31They feel like their offense is really what needs to get rolling here, guys.
02:34Thanks, Malika.
02:34That's bad news on Goodwin.
02:36He's a very good defender.
02:37For some reason, he's unable to go on Wednesday.
02:41We already are without Mark Williams,
02:44and Grayson Allen didn't look like he's going to play today either,
02:48even though he is listed as available.
02:51Booker bumps, and he'll go to the line with Dorff picking up the foul.
02:59That was a big story of Phoenix's year.
03:01It is remarkable that they won 45 games given the number of injuries.
03:07I mean, Dylan Brooks missed 26 games.
03:09Jalen Green missed 50 games.
03:11Devin Booker missed 18 games,
03:14yet they still have the seventh best record in a very deep Western Conference.
03:20NBA playoffs first-run action continues Wednesday.
03:22We mentioned we'll be here for game two, Thunder and Phoenix.
03:26But first, it is Detroit and Orlando.
03:28It's seventh Eastern time.
03:30The Pistons the number one seed in the East.
03:33And I think that is remarkable what you're noting about Phoenix in light of the injuries,
03:38because it's not as though there was a history amongst their top three players.
03:43It was the Kevin Durant trade that brings Jordan on, new head coach, new system, new terminology,
03:49along with Jalen Green and Dylan Brooks.
03:56And his skills as Alexander is fouled by O'Neal.
03:58Really, when you look at the roster, you had a lot of cast-offs and guys that nobody wanted coming
04:03out of college.
04:03You got three undrafted players that are part of your top nine guys, including Goodwin, Gillespie, and Royce O'Neal,
04:10the other two.
04:11You know, Dylan Brooks is the mainstay, but you move Kevin Durant.
04:16You hope you get something from Brooks.
04:19Jalen Green, a change of scenery.
04:20You hope it works out.
04:22And now you look at your roster and you say, okay, we've got something we can build on.
04:26The culture's been changed here.
04:31Meanwhile, Gilgis Alexander, 16 points, eight of nine at the line.
04:35He's drawn seven fouls so far here today.
04:38Missed the free throw, but kept alive.
04:40Gets it right back.
04:41Missed the jump shot at the foul line.
04:44To your point about Jalen Green is he gives it up to Dee Book.
04:50Like, he's still figuring it out.
04:52He's still so young, but that ability right there.
04:56I mean, you know, he's trying to figure, okay, how do I play with Devin Booker?
04:59When do I attack?
05:01Well, what's, you know, what are the right opportunities for me?
05:04There was so much conversation, it felt like, in Phoenix all year,
05:07about there's going to be another couple free throws.
05:10Like, will Dylan Brooks, Jalen Green, Devin Booker, can they blend their skills?
05:18And he's still so young, 24 years of age, doesn't turn 25 until next February.
05:26And when they got him, he was a guy that always played 82 games each of the last two years,
05:31but we missed more than two months from November 8th to January 20th with a hamstring injury.
05:39And playing his best basketball of the year coming into today, but just 5 of 12 so far in this
05:45one.
05:45Meanwhile, Gilgis Alexander, 10 of 12 at the line.
05:52Sun's still hanging around, down 17.
05:54Nice speed.
05:55Iguodaro met by Delgis Alexander for the block.
05:58Kept alive, though, for Phoenix and Brooks.
06:00Can't pay it off with a three.
06:04How about the ups of SGA?
06:06His second block.
06:09Holmgren fakes the pass, fires, missed the three.
06:12Green gets the rebound.
06:20On the switch, Holmgren's got Jalen Green.
06:23Beats to Booker, blocked by Hartenstein.
06:29Booker in the teeth of the lane, kicks it out.
06:31Brooks, three no good.
06:34Gilgis Alexander boards.
06:36Just a good crack back by Shea.
06:38And how about the rotations by he and Hartenstein?
06:42Oh, that's a hold on O'Neal.
06:45Well, let's watch Shea Gilgis Alexander.
06:48You know, I talked about his MVP case, how hard he works on the defensive end.
06:52It's the low man.
06:54He just comes over his closing speed.
06:56The ability vertically to get up against somebody with whom you are mismatched size wide.
07:03Rise and send it back.
07:05So good.
07:05The wingspan of SGA.
07:08Big reason why year in, year out, he's one of the NBA leaders in steals.
07:12Reverse lap.
07:13Good by Jalen Williams.
07:14His first points of the third.
07:16Leads back to 19.
07:17He's got a lot of offensive game.
07:2336-12 Oklahoma City outscoring Phoenix in the lane.
07:28Green's passed.
07:30It's deflected right back to him.
07:34Booker trying to get unlocked but so hard against multiple defenders.
07:38Brooks with two.
07:40Takes it.
07:40Rejected by Jalen Williams.
07:42The seventh block for the Thunder here today.
07:46Williams in the lane.
07:48Has it knocked away?
07:49Gets it back though.
07:53Dave, we could do a highlight reel of just their help defense.
07:58Oklahoma City.
07:59I mean, honestly, it's textbook across the board.
08:01The ball pressure, the clean switching, you name it.
08:04But watch it look like, okay, they're going to say, all right, let's make Devin Booker a passer.
08:09Ball rotation, right decision to attack.
08:11But there's Jalen Williams.
08:13And I said that the first priority for Oklahoma City and any great defensive team in the modern NBA,
08:19or any defense anywhere, is protect the rim.
08:21Like the most valuable shots are restricted area.
08:24They do an incredible job emphasizing.
08:27George three short.
08:29Rebound Booker.
08:31And Booker has it knocked away by Gildas Alexander.
08:35And last, touched by Booker.
08:37And Jordan Knott, who won a challenge in the first half, will use his second and final challenge here.
08:52Ruled off of Booker.
08:55Hard to tell from that angle after Gildas Alexander deflected it to Booker touch it.
09:08Welcome back to Oklahoma City where it will be Phoenix ball after a successful challenge by the Suns.
09:13But interestingly, Jordan Knott, after the timeout, he said to crew chief Mark Davis that he was not trying to
09:21call for a challenge.
09:22He said, I was trying to call for a 30 second timeout.
09:25He then said, I will challenge it because we're already going down that road.
09:28But what my intention was was for the 30 seconds.
09:31So a miscommunication between the crew chief and head coach of the Phoenix Suns there, guys.
09:36Yeah, you don't see that very often.
09:37Although it is a successful challenge.
09:39And that could help Phoenix here in terms of momentum down 19.
09:43We have 36 officials selected to work the first round of the playoffs.
09:47A group which has an average of over 16 years of NBA experience.
09:50Nine officials have worked 100 or more playoff games.
09:53Mark Davis has worked more than 200.
09:55Sean Wright also on this crew, he's worked more than 100.
09:59And this is year 19 for Mark Lindsey, the third official, as Booker drills a three.
10:05So the second quarter, you were only outscored by six of your Phoenix.
10:10And you're looking for anything to build on, both for the rest of this one and going into Wednesday's second
10:15game.
10:17And they played on Tuesday in the play and then Friday.
10:20Quick turnaround to play Sunday afternoon as they give up the dunk here to Dort.
10:25Hartenstein a very good passer.
10:27Defense!
10:32Booker trying to shake Dort.
10:36Now Brooks with a timer at 10.
10:39Fade away over Hartenstein, in and out.
10:42Thunder ball.
10:4564 wins for the Thunder.
10:47Best home record in the league at 34-7.
10:50He started 24-1, went 500 over about a 30 game stretch, but closed out the year 19-3.
10:58Hartenstein, offensive rebound off the Gildas Alexander miss.
11:02Williams hits a three!
11:04That double big lineup for a team that doesn't have much size up front.
11:09Just devastated.
11:15Iguodoro not a threat to shoot, but he is to drive and throw it down, but he's met by Hartenstein
11:20and it's sent back.
11:22On the other end, the scoop by Gildas Alexander.
11:25No, he's just four for 14.
11:28Pull up three, Booker.
11:31Two strong, batted out.
11:33Booker gets to the loose ball and then fouled.
11:35They're going to stay on the floor.
11:38Third team foul against Oklahoma City.
11:41Let's watch Isaiah.
11:42You talked about his passing skills, so a little big-to-big action.
11:45See a lot of guard-to-guard action?
11:47Well, big-to-big action out front leads to a backdoor cut by Lou Dort.
11:52And this guy, you said it, like offensive rebounder.
11:55He's their best offensive rebounder.
11:57Easiest time to shoot a three.
11:58And then Oso, not so much at the rim against Isaiah.
12:05Hartenstein missed about half the season.
12:07And that's the thing about Oklahoma City.
12:09We talked about Phoenix overcoming injuries.
12:11Jalen Williams misses 50 games.
12:13Hartenstein misses half the year, and they still have the best record in the league.
12:17O'Neal knocks down a three.
12:1918-point game midway through the third.
12:22Let's go, Thunder!
12:29Williams keeps the dribble alive.
12:34Now it's in the hands of Yodas Alexander.
12:37He's Jalen Green on him on the switch.
12:39Going to work.
12:40Doubled and gives it up to Williams.
12:42Shot clock at two.
12:43Williams trying to split the double.
12:44Great handle!
12:45And then goes up and under for the layup!
12:47Woohoo!
12:49So much game.
12:5418 points now for Williams.
12:57Matching Yodas Alexander for a team high.
13:00Seven in the quarter for Williams.
13:02He also has six assists.
13:07Brooks.
13:09Attacks hangs it finishes. I would not want to make my living
13:12Oh, but having to create that kind of opportunity and put it home
13:18Everything for Phoenix has been very difficult just 33 percent shooting arched on a nice pass door way off
13:27Williams with the same
13:30Ten seconds on the shot clock down
13:33Dork will try it again
13:39Oh
13:52Brooks gets past Kildas Alexander and banks it in challenging Holmgren. Okay. How about the back-to-back buckets by
13:59Dylan Brooks?
14:00No quit Matt guy
14:02And that we talked about what they need their top three scores
14:06You know we were talking pregame like what's the number do they need 75 from their top three players to
14:12have a chance?
14:13But he has back-to-back drives that degree of difficulty if you're judging off that is a 10 out
14:19of 10
14:20Turns the corner gets met by Chet at the rim who does a great job staying vertical and forcing him
14:26to finish over the top
14:28Wow, two tough twos
14:30He just picked up his fourth foul and
14:33Penalty situation. So Kildas Alexander at the line where he's 10 for 12 and Brooks made a comment. He's not
14:39the first about
14:40Oklahoma City and its ability to get to the free throw line
14:44After their win on Friday night
14:50This year's NFL draft is in Pittsburgh and the three-day event begins Thursday at 8 Eastern 5 Pacific will
14:56have every pick once again on ESPN
14:58It's also available on the NFL Network and as always ABC's come to the draft
15:06Well, how about the Suns?
15:08Ten threes only eight field goals in the paint. I've talked about it. They are such a
15:14Perimeter heavy team so reliant on the jump shot
15:22Joe Desalexander up to 20 points. No surprise given he's got the NBA record for consecutive games scoring 20 or
15:29more
15:29He did have a couple games in the playoff the one last year where he was under 20
15:35But in terms of regular season 140 straight 20 plus
15:41Holmgren great screen by Caruso, but the three is off the mark
15:48Phoenix trailed by 25 at one point Dort with a steal
15:53Drives it all the way hangs and miss the land
16:01By the way Jay will the other Jalen Williams is back on the oklahoma city bench as a foul is
16:08called here on nega Dara
16:11Williams was hurt in the first half and good to see him back on the thunder bench look at this
16:15drive
16:15Just how about that cross on the left-hand side and then the footwork and what you get
16:22From every player up and down the roster is incredible hustle pursuing the offensive glass he creates an opportunity
16:29It's going to lead to a loop three just all out effort all the time across the board
16:37Fourth year for Jalen Williams
16:40Just turning 25 a handful of days ago
16:44Was the 12th pick in the
16:462022 draft
16:48The oldest Alexander finds Mitchell and another Oklahoma City three the ninth for the thunder
16:55Folks he sat he sat for a long time
16:58But just like the first half he comes in and he just comfortably steps into a three
17:03Reefer three from behind the arc for Mitchell and the lead back to 24 with three to play in the
17:07third
17:13Alex Caruso has covered a lot of ground in that defensive possession
17:18My goodness that guy never stops moving and the thunder force another phoenix giveaway
17:24Mitchell on the baseline you want the thunder haven't turned it over in 15 minutes
17:30Do a great job protecting the ball led by this guy
17:34He'll just Alexander drives hangs missed the bank
17:38Pushed out and now jalen williams back on the court missed the three and a foul inside
17:43And the basket goes
17:54Largest lead of the day for the thunder and killed this alexander up to 22 points they do not
18:00Let's let you breathe do not relax
18:03Because of a missed shot be active be on your toes to shake
18:09Gets an end one and alex saying come on group we're ready
18:15Deep dive the two bigs for oklahoma city have been big so far in this game
18:23So I mean listen there was a time in the nba where we were saying well the big man is
18:28dead
18:28It's not a position you need it just is a one that seems to be ever evolving
18:32The double big has been sensational all year numerically for oklahoma state
18:38Oklahoma city
18:39I mean chucks ability to stretch from three is important they give you so much offensively
18:44He hasn't used this floater game as much isaiah hartenstein
18:48But boy as an offensive rebounder ring protector you've got two guys that are pretty good
18:53If you want to dive deeper into this or any nba playoffs topic ask ai
18:59mode in google search
19:01Dave patch doors burton malik andrews back in oklahoma city
19:05homegrown and hartenstein on the bench right now
19:09They've combined for 15 rebounds and shea gilchus alexander who's drawn 11 fouls in this game looking to complete the
19:16three-point play
19:17Each and every one of them feel like they've been earned by shea gilchus alexander
19:22And you know let me just talk about the double bigs you got j will on the floor who had
19:27turned his ankle in the first half
19:29I thought j will as a health defender in that first half was so impactful
19:34We always talk about defense on a string everybody committed to competing and staying on discipline with the game plan
19:40This group is really extraordinary in that regard and doris you mentioned this to me a couple times
19:46That's just off the air about the impact that jalen williams had in spot minute duty
19:51In the finals in particular last year the thunder have a lot of different pieces that mark degnoll can use
19:57yeah
19:57And i'll say j j will the other guy kenrich williams also opportunistically
20:05Impactful and for mark degno and you were the one who drew my attention to this
20:09In game seven in the nba finals how many guys did he play you said eight i believe in the
20:14in the seven
20:15Like i think it's a night-by-night situational use of exceptional depth and all of them know
20:22Some some series are going to be for me and some series i'm going to sit the pine and i
20:28got to be okay with it
20:29degnoll told us he already had a conversation with jared mccain he said look how we do things here is
20:34You may play very little today in game one but there is going to be a time i'm going to
20:39call your name and he's not the only one in that
20:41So but it's why degnoll is one of the best coaches in the nba how he handles those relationships with
20:47the players
20:48As gives us alexander is back at the line and now 14 of 16 at the strike
20:56Pumps and bruises you got
21:00J dub with a little ice on his wrist you got lou dort stretching out the cap over there
21:06It is april in the nba so your body is not perfect
21:11A couple days off in between games game two wednesday
21:16Points off turnovers 29 to 2 in favor of oklahoma city in this game elbow pull up goes for devin
21:22booker who's got 22
21:24Just such a smooth jump shooter right devin booker
21:30Average over the course of his career in the playoffs 28 points per game good for eight in nba history
21:37That was knocked away by o'neill out of bounds 10 on the shot clock for the thunder
21:47Dagnall calling out
21:49instructions from midcourt in year six former coach of the year and
21:55So many different coaches did a great job that his name isn't mentioned but
22:00Given the injuries they had to win 64 games is a magnificent season and job well done by him
22:06No doubt
22:09Joe missoula great chance to win the award even though he doesn't want it
22:13As booker takes a shot from wallace that's his second foul
22:16We got mitch johnson in san antonio with san antonio back in the playoffs for the first time in seven
22:22years
22:23And winning more than 60 games jb bickerstaff as detroit is the number one seed in the east
22:32All in the conversation
22:37A minute to go here in the third
22:42Thunder up 29
22:45Iceman corner three not there caruso clears
22:54SGA 25.6 assist and no turnovers got a lot of games this year he's a huge scoring games but
23:02no turnovers
23:05Shot clock down to five
23:07Yojus alexander trying to create timer two sidestep three in and out
23:11Offensive rebound another chance for yojus alexander another miss done rebounds
23:21Just five for 18 and 0 for four from three but still 25 points for sga
23:26final seconds of the third quarter
23:30That's a foul mr. Wallace
23:33I mean they have been so physical whether it's he or lou dorth all day
23:39Booker's got 22 but boy he has had a defender right here whether it's wallace or dork this is what
23:47he's faced all day
23:49And booker not the biggest guy but we saw his toughness on full display if you go back to the
23:55nba finals five years ago
23:56He was battering brews throughout that series with the bucks
24:00And prior to that there were a lot of people that weren't sure of his physicality
24:03But we saw it there and we saw it in the olympics as well. Oh stop it
24:07He broke his nose was broken in the nba finals whether it happened before or during
24:13He got hit there about a million times and you never saw him late you never saw him reach for
24:18his nose
24:19No, there's an innate toughness and competitive spirit. That's uh elite
24:25He's got 10 points in the quarter, but his team down big final seconds of the third
24:30Gilgis alexander
24:33Drives and kicks williams for three got it with six tenths of a second left
24:41The lead is 31 after three in oklahoma city
24:47This presentation of the nba playoffs on abc presented by google will continue after this message and a word from
24:55our abc stations
25:01Back to oklahoma city where today not only marks the beginning of the play of the playoff
25:06But it's also the 31st anniversary of the oklahoma city bombing that killed 168 people now isaiah hartenstein
25:13He wasn't even born yet in fact only two oklahoma city players were and they were infants at the time
25:18But hartenstein he was so moved when sam presti took him to visit the memorial
25:23Which he does with all new players and staff that hartenstein recently produced a documentary
25:28It's titled the oklahoma standard and the photos you see right there are of the screening of his new movie
25:34And it honors both the lives lost the first responders and the survivors of that day
25:39Hartenstein really wanted to focus on the way the city came together in the wake of tragedy and the thunder
25:44always keep in mind
25:45They're a part of a community that was irreplaceably changed
25:49Great job of that very difficult story malika about hartenstein and the thunder well one thing sam presti does a
25:55lot with
25:56Potential free agents and ennis kantor who played here did an article in the local paper on this today talking
26:02about his experience
26:03Presti will bring players to the memorial museum just so they can understand the history and what this city has
26:10been through
26:12And it's how you build culture and this is a unique nba city you know i know i've heard it
26:19described in the past like the
26:21The building itself is sort of being a college environment but
26:25It's it's just unique passionate
26:30Crew and you could tell they were on fire for the start of the playoffs today
26:35Devin booker when he came in look everybody wears the playoff shirts that they give out right sometimes you come
26:41to arenas and people don't want to mess up their
26:43Their look but i mean everybody in the building's got the free tea
26:54nba first round on abc is presented by popeyes love that chicken from popeyes and in part by google
27:05The nba first round presented by popeyes playoffs continue wednesday night with another doubleheader on espn
27:12the 1-8 matchups in the east it's orlando detroit
27:17game two and then game two between phoenix and the thunder our coverage starts with ernie kenny charles
27:22and shack at 6 eastern time unsuccessful challenge by oklahoma city so it's the first turnover by the thunder in
27:29the last 19 minutes and 14 seconds
27:33I wonder were they thinking about the proximate foul there maybe the push by dylan brooks
27:4225 points for gildas alexander to lead all scores 18 for jalen williams jalen green misses again
27:48he's 5 for 14 foul inside in the thunder
27:52brooks is 5 of 20. booker has been very good 23 points on 8 of 17 shooting
27:58a 34 point lead for the thunder
28:05hartstein picks up his fourth foul
28:09by the way jodis alexander with
28:1217 attempts and 15 makes at the foul line both are playoff career highs for him
28:22phoenix will look to regroup hope to get center mark williams back grace and allen is close he
28:27was listed as available today but we have not seen him maybe he'll play on wednesday
28:34not sure that even that'll be enough against this potent oklahoma city team mark williams just from a size
28:42you know standard experience as well
28:45but 15 consecutive games he missed in a stretch because of that foot stress reaction
28:59that's one thing that was fascinating as you see the two guys were referencing there like
29:04and malika alluded to this in our first report tonight
29:08it's like how much information gathering in game one of a series both teams do
29:15mark gay they're talking to us specifically about that
29:18things we're asking you know who are who's taking
29:22jalen green who's taking devin booker and it's like it's not going to be a steady diet of any one
29:26of
29:26those we're going to look at a lot of different matchups
29:30he said we're not going to be a one-pitch team meaning we're not just going to have the same
29:35guy defend devin booker throughout game one we wanted to see it all and then we'll pair it down as
29:39we go along this year mitchell missed the shot inside malawatch with the rebound
29:48rook still on the floor for the suns as is green whose three is up and way off
29:53but you know malawatch getting a chance here right these are not wasted minutes
29:59he's got a legit run against the defending champion they're going to get jalen williams
30:04was it the violation yeah eight seconds violation
30:11so we just you know gave you it from an audio perspective here are the visuals of the four
30:17shooting for green and brooks and obviously going to have to improve for wednesday to be different
30:23some of that missed shots like i feel like both of them had a couple of clean looks but a
30:27lot of that is
30:28influence in the pressure of oklahoma city
30:33this does have a different feel as that's poked away from green williams with the slamming transition
30:39a different feel though from game one of the first run last year where the thunder destroyed memphis
30:45grizzlies didn't look like they wanted to be there and they were out quickly
30:49i think we'll get more fight from phoenix again don't know if we'll see a different result
30:57the 34 point lead
31:02isaiah joe deep triple back rimmed it rebound brooks
31:10the nba team has 68 points on the board with 802 to go
31:19sons have shot it poorly but also that thunder defense phenomenal brooks mid-range shot is good
31:29under mark dagnall the thunder oh and eight in first round games he's the third coach in nba history
31:35to start out eight no in the first round
31:40another basket for williams and a timeout by the sun 22 now for jalen williams
31:53a green light green light group green light group no no no no momentum no momentum come on
32:03habits for game two three four come on habits habits
32:18so how much impact can a guy who's barely shot or scored the basketball have on a basketball game
32:25physicality on the defensive end clean switching you just listen to the level of communication
32:31being thrilled for your teammates success look at all the ground this dude covers constantly
32:39and this to me is an underrated attribute can you be as happy for someone else's success
32:46as you can for your own the answer where that guy is concerned is a absolute yes
32:51meanwhile with seven and a half to go both teams essentially emptying the benches although the thunder
32:56guys are guys on the floor that have played in the finals just because how deep they are but
33:00you got booye checking into the game along with fleming who knocks down the three the rookie out of st
33:05joe's so phoenix will have a couple of days after this to catch its breath after winning friday night
33:15at home against golden state in the play and then get ready try to regroup for game two
33:20against a well-rested thunder team as mccain from mid-range
33:26really hope grayson allen can help it because he's a guy who can stretch you from deep you know high
33:33volume three-point shooter he can deck it as well he'll compete defensively
33:40nice shot by gillespie and he you know the league was telling us early like they had perhaps some
33:48availability there elected to go against it but even coach told us pregame he is very close
33:57it's a left hamstring that's the issue for him no issue for the thunder
34:03shooting it from deep here in the fourth quarter that's isaiah joe with his second three ball
34:11it's a 34 point lead they beat memphis in game one of the first round last year by 51 so
34:18that's plus 85
34:19in the last two opening games of the first round how about plumbing from the other corner this time he
34:25just he looks the part of nba player look at the frame on him
34:31he was the first pick up the second round by minnesota last summer and traded on draft night
34:37fleming 21 years old mccain missed the reverse booyer with a rebound
34:45so it looks like the home team is going to win for the sixth straight game all four yesterday and
34:51then
34:51boston won earlier today don't forget portland and san antonio tonight in san antonio with the spurs
34:59rolling behind mvp candidate victor wendon yama
35:03well a lot of discussion right about san antonio expectation inside the organization is there ready
35:10to compete but obviously playoff experience of some of their key contributors is low and
35:19and mcdegno talked about that their first playoff experience and all the lessons they learned in losing
35:28they were the one seed two years ago lost to dallas in the conference semis and then last year as
35:34the
35:34one seed obviously won the championship but and some of the guys we spoke to got the sense they're really
35:40trying to focus on the loss from two years ago rather than what it was like to hoist the trophy
35:44last
35:44here to keep them locked in and motivated this postseason i think it was interesting when you
35:50asked jay dub about that he said i'm actually trying to remember the feeling of losing
35:55the score for the game they were the youngest team to be a number one seed at that point dallas
36:03rolled all the way to the finals that year with kairi irving and luka dodges both playing at an unreal
36:08level take a look at the upcoming series schedule we've got wednesday night game two here on espn at
36:15930 our friends at NBC Peacock
36:17Club game three next Saturday
36:19Game four following Monday in
36:22Phoenix and if necessary back
36:23here in Oklahoma City on April
36:2529th.
36:32So the game won so far
36:33there's only been one single
36:35digit margin and that was the
36:38Lakers winning by nine great
36:40win for LA last night over
36:42Houston as COVID checks in.
36:47Here's the King for three.
36:51He's down
36:52with a head of speed
36:54and they've delivered that
36:55pass pretty good.
37:01Just want to finish up on the Lakers
37:03doors. How confident are you if
37:05you're a Lakers fan right now after
37:06what you witnessed last night.
37:08Now Kevin Durant did not play.
37:09Don't know yet whether he'll be
37:11available for game two.
37:12Well of course my response was
37:13going to be can you tell me how
37:15many games Kevin Durant is going to
37:16play. I mean listen the fact is all
37:19year even with one of the great
37:20scores in the history of the sport
37:22on high volume and high efficiency
37:25Kevin Durant their offense could
37:28struggle. So it was absolutely no
37:30surprise that it was a scuffle. But I
37:33I mean how about the play the Lakers
37:35got from Luke Pinard. Just absolutely
37:38incredible.
37:40And after shortly after they
37:42acquired him you and I had a Laker
37:44game and JJ Raddick called us look
37:45Luke Pinard is more than just a
37:47shooter. Yeah. We saw that yesterday.
37:48I think he's he's put that on display
37:51since he's been there. It's like
37:52he's got an all-around floor game in
37:55addition to the deadly three-point
37:57shooting.
37:59Bouye with the finish inside three
38:01minutes to go. 117 to 80 Oklahoma
38:03City.
38:11Kenrich Williams. No good on the
38:14three. Rebound done.
38:20Now there has not been a repeat
38:21champ in the NBA since Golden State
38:242017 2018. And the Thunder taking
38:29one step today. Small step but a step
38:34in the direction of trying to get to
38:35that repeat as Fleming hits his third
38:37three in just a few minutes off the
38:39bench.
38:41Fleming shot 35 percent from three
38:43during the regular season.
38:44You think about the start Oklahoma
38:46City got off to. What were they 24
38:48and one before they started the
38:50scuffle. San Antonio's wins against
38:52this team changed entirely how the
38:56season felt right. It became oh my
38:59goodness they're a juggernaut and a
39:01certain repeat to feeling like a
39:03little bit more competitive. Four
39:06wins for the Spurs against the
39:07Thunder. Denver was very
39:10competitive. Nuggets looked good
39:12and beating Minnesota yesterday
39:13have to think at full strength
39:15Denver can challenge. They did last
39:17year they took the Thunder to seven
39:18games in the conference semis.
39:20done off on the three rebound Williams.
39:30Spot up three Isaiah Joe off target
39:33Booyer rebounds and got hit upstairs
39:35by McCain. WrestleMania 42 continues
39:38tonight in Las Vegas highlighted by
39:40more of WWE's biggest stars stream it
39:43on the ESPN app using the ESPN unlimited
39:46plan. Sign up or log in with your TV
39:48provider to unlock your access. Coverage
39:50begins 6 Eastern, 3 Pacific and ESPN.
39:53Will we get more visits from Pat McAfee
39:55there do you think? I think did he get
39:57like taken off on a stretcher if I saw
39:59hopefully Pat's okay send our well wishes.
40:02Roman Reigns in action tonight. Booyer on the
40:10turn around. Rebound inside by Wiggins.
40:13Final minute of game one. And Williams
40:24with the land. So leading scores for
40:27Oklahoma City. Shake Yotes Alexander
40:29with 25. Playoff career high 15 made
40:32free throws on 17 attempts. Jalen
40:37Williams 22.6 assists and seven
40:39rebounds. Chet Holmgren at 16 points
40:41most of his damage was done in the
40:44first half. In fact he didn't score in
40:45the second half is under a call for a
40:47foul. Devin Booker 23 to lead the
40:51way for Phoenix. So so far in the
40:54playoffs Donovan Mitchell and James
40:56Harden were outstanding in Cleveland's
40:58win over Toronto. Another triple
41:00double shockingly for Jokic. Jalen
41:03Brunson 28 and the win over that
41:05pesky Atlanta team and LeBron James
41:08an efficient night had a ton of
41:09assists in the first quarter. Welcome
41:11back to the playoffs Jason Tatum. A
41:14near triple double for him in the win
41:16over Philly on ABC earlier today. It's
41:18just an incredible story that Tatum is
41:20back already and at the level he is
41:22going to finish his defensive rebounding
41:24has been a big key historically for
41:27that team. He's not yet found the
41:29stroke consistently from three. You
41:31still have to guard him from out
41:32there and that's just a matter of
41:34time. Thunder will just dribble it
41:37out here and take the shot clock
41:38violation and the Suns will dribble
41:40it out and end game one. Game two
41:45Wednesday night 9 30 Eastern time
41:48on ESPN in the second game of the
41:50playoff doubleheader. The other one
41:52eight Detroit Orlando will precede
41:55us at seven o'clock Eastern time. Game
41:59one of that series is coming up but
42:01game two will be on ESPN Wednesday. So
42:05we just got this note here. This is
42:06this is crazy. The Thunder will be the
42:10second team ever to win playoff
42:12openers by 30 or more points in
42:14consecutive years. The Lakers did it
42:16in 1986 1987. They keep setting
42:23records. Another historic day for
42:26the Thunder as they roll the Suns
42:27119 to 84 to take a one nothing
42:31series lead. But game two Wednesday
42:33night back here at Paycom Center. ABC
42:37World News tonight or your local
42:39news is coming up next over most of
42:41these ABC stations for Malika
42:43Andrews Doris Burke her entire
42:44crew. I'm Dave Pasch. Thanks for
42:46watching ABC home of the NBA Finals
42:49so long from OKC after a thunder
42:52win in game one.
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