Durant Fined 25k

On Thursday night the Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant made a great dunk and his celebration was to pretend to slice his throat. It was called a 'menacing gesture' and he was fined 25k for this simple act of celebration. I think that he should not have been fined 25k for something as small as that, but it wasn't just that.

Durant made the dunk after Russell Westbrook made a block on Stephen Curry and Durant corralled the ball and took it to the other end of the floor for a monsterous dunk. He then made a slice motion across his neck and then crossed his hands in prayer. The thing that really set off the media and the fans was what he said.

"Kill 'em and pray for 'em after the game," Durant said.

That is what I call unacceptable, if he had just kept it at that simple gesture he probably wouldn't have been fined, but the words are what set people off.

By David B.

Three Straight Years

The West has been on top of the All-Star game for the previous 2 years and they made it 3 years last night. When the MVP award was given to Chris Paul who now has his name on a list of players including Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas. Because CP3 had 20 points and 15 assists he also would end with 4 steals.

 "You just want to play fast. I like to throw the lob. I like to see guys hit 3s," Paul said. That's Chris Paul for you. He likes to be the guy who doesn't get the job done with points, but assists.

It wasn't just CP3 getting the job done for the West they had plenty of help from Blake Griffin and Kevin Durant. Durant lead all scorers with 30 points and he also had 7 rebounds. Griffin had 19 points and 2 steals. Also the West's bench played outstanding with Tony Parker, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden all coming in for over 10 points. Parker had 13 and 5 assists, Westbrook had 14 and 4 rebounds, and Harden had 15 with 6 boards.

The top performer from the East was quite obviously Carmelo Anthony who had 26 points and 12 rebounds leading his team in both categories. Dwayne Wade also played lights out with 21 points, 2 steals, 2 blocks, and 7 assists. LeBron had 19 points and he was blocked twice by Kobe Bryant. Kyrie Irving had 15 points and 4 assists off the bench.

The game would end with the West on top 143 to 138. Which team do you think will win the All-Star game next year? Post in the comments box!

By David B.

NBA: Stats

The NBA stats are rocky and listed below.

Points Per Game                                                 

1. Kevin Durant~OKC~29.6
2. Carmello Anthony~NYK~29.4
3. Kobe Bryant~LAL~28.7                                    

 Rebounds Per Game

1. Dwight Howard~LAL~12
2. Zach Randolph~MEM~11.6
3. Nikola Vucevic~ORL~11.3

Assists Per Game

1. Rajon Rondo~BOS~11.1
2. Chris Paul~LAC~9.7
3. Greivis Vasquez~NO~9.2

 By David B.

                                                                                                                                                                    
 

Lakers Outlast Thunder

Today the amazing Oklahoma City Thunder were paying a visit to the struggling Los Angeles Lakers.  The Thunder couldn't hang in though, and the Lakers won this game 105-96.  This game sounds like it was dominated by the Lakers, but it was close; there was never a time in this game when there was more than a ten points lead for either team.  In the first quarter, the the Lakers outscored the Thunder 27-23.  In the second quarter the Thunder had a comeback, outscoring the Lakers 30-25.  The halftime score would be 53-52 with the Thunder on top.  In the third quarter the Lakers outscored the Thunder 23-22.  From the middle of the third quarter to the end of the game, the Lakers had positive energy, giving them the win.  In the fourth quarter the Lakers outscored the Thunder 30-21, showing off their ability to go through traffic and find a big man and score.  Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and he added 9 rebounds; one rebound shy of a triple-double.  Steve Nash and Pau Gasol had great games too, Nash and Gasol making important baskets in crucial moments.

Kevin Durant led the way for the Thunder with 35 points.  Russell Westbrook led the team in rebounding and assists, with 17 points, 13 assists, and 9 rebounds.  Westbrook was also one board shy of a triple-double.  I now think that the Lakers will have a great rest of the season, because this game was a real momentum shifter.  I think the rest of the teams in the Western Conference should be scared, now that the Lakers have this confidence.  I also think that the Thunder will bounce off of this loss and still be the best in the West.  The OKC Thunder are now 34-11.  The Los Angeles Lakers are now 19-25.  This looked like one of the Lakers best games this season.  By Ameen I.

Thunder vs. Nuggets

Tonight the Oklahoma City Thunder are going to visit the Denver Nuggets.  The Nuggets lost Carmelo Anthony a few years ago sending him to New York, and becoming a New York Knick.  Their coach though, George Carl, has stayed in Denver and has stayed and encourages his players.  Meanwhile, the OKC Thunder are led by Kevin Durant, who averages 29.3 points a game and 7.5 boards per game.  Russell Westbrook averages 22.7 points per game, 8.3 assists a game, and 5.3 rebounds a game.  Their big guy, Serge Ibaka, averages 13.9 points a game, 8.4 rebounds per game, and 2.8 rejections a game.  On the other hand, the Denver Nuggets have the veteran Andre Iguodala.  Andre averages 13.3 points a game, 4.5 assists per game, and 5.5 boards a game.  Kenneth Faried averages12.2 points a game and 9.9 rebounds per game.  Finally, Ty Lawson averages 14.5 points a game and 6.8 dishes per game.  I predict that the Nuggets will win, but it will be a very close game throughout.

    By Ameen I.  

                                                                                                                                                                    

Thunder Struck

Last night, the Oklahoma City Thunder visited the Dallas Mavericks.  The Thunder got off to a quick start outscoring the Mavericks 30-22.  This game was intense with the experienced players making difficult shots, Kevin Durant and Vince Carter.  Vince Carter used to be on the New Jersey Nets but couldn't win a championship.  Kevin Durant has experience from when he was in the Olympics this summer.  The second quarter was much tighter though.  The Mavericks outscored the Thunder 24-23.  The halftime score was 53-46 with the OKC Thunder on top.  Kevin Durant was scoring, Russell Westbrook was assisting, and Serge Ibaka was rebounding.  In the third quarter the Thunder outscored the Dallas Mavericks 28-26.  In the fourth quarter, the Mavericks had a huge surge and outscored the OKC Thunder 33-24, sending the game into overtime.  Finally, the Thunder outscored the Mavericks 12-9 in the five minute overtime.  The final score was 117-114 with the Thunder on top.  Kevin Durant led the Thunder with a career-high, 52 points.  Kevin was 21-of-21 from the free-throw line.  Russell Westbrook added 31 points and six assists in an effort to beat the Mavericks.  Serge Ibaka led the Thunder with 14 boards.  Meanwhile, Vince Carter led the Mavericks with 29 points.  Elton Brand led the Mavericks with 13 rebounds and O.J. Mayo led the Mavericks with seven assists.  Surprisingly, Dirk Nowitzki wasn't  leading the Dallas Mavericks in any of these three categories.The Oklahoma City Thunder are now 32-8, with the best record in the NBA.  The Dallas Mavericks are 17-24, and aren't having the season they imagined.  By Ameen I.

Thunder vs. Mavericks

The Oklahoma City Thunder are going to play the Dallas Mavericks in the  city of Dallas.  The Thunder are led by Kevin Durant who has 28.7 points a game, 4.2 assists per game, and 7.4 rebounds per a game.  This summer Kevin Durant played in the Olympics with Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Tyson Chandler.  Yesterday the Knicks were playing in the same stadium as they did in the Olympics in London.  Anyways, point-guard Russell Westbrook averages 22.4 points a game, 8.3 dishes a game, and even 5.3 rebounds a game.  Westbrook is very fast and can lead the Thunder in the fast break and lob it up to Kevin Durant.  The big guy, Serge Ibaka, averages 14 points a game, 8.3 boards a game, and 2.9 blocks a game.  Ibaka was on the Spain basketball team during the Olympics and lost to Kevin Durant and the U.S.A. Men's Olympic team in the gold medal match.

Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks are led by 14 year veteran, Dirk Nowitzki.  Dirk averages 13.7 points a game and 5.2 rebounds a game.  Nowitzki and the Mavericks have gone down ever since winning the championship a couple of years ago against the Miami Heat.  The Mavericks also have O.J. Mayo who has a resounding 18.3 points a game and 4 assists per game.  O.J. Mayo is also a great leader for the Dallas Mavericks.  Another veteran, Shawn Marion, averages 10.4 points per a game and a resounding 8.2 boards a game.  This season has been disappointing for the Mavericks with a 17-23 record.  If the Mavericks play at this rate, I doubt that they will make the playoffs this year.  By Ameen I.

Lakers-Thunder

The Lakers have lead one of their worst seasons ever. On top of that they expected to be the beset team with the addition of Dwight Howard and Steve Nash. Then they turned towards the other direction and this game is another example of how bad their season has been going. By David B. ESPN.com