Instant Analysis: Thunder Snaps Spurs' 11-Game Winning Streak

The Oklahoma City Thunder snapped the San Antonio Spurs' 11-game winning streak with a 94-88 win Wednesday night at The Peake. Here's some instant analysis:

Star of the game- Reggie Jackson

The entire Oklahoma City bench came up big in this game, outscoring the Spurs, 39-37, but the catalyst was Jackson. Jackson scored a career-high 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting, including eight points in the first 3:15 of the fourth quarter that extended the Thunder lead to 78-67. It was probably the best game of Jackson's career given the stage and performance. Jeremy Lamb was also big off the bench, scoring 12 points, including the final five OKC points of the third quarter that began to push the game in the Thunder's favor.

Steel Curtain

The Thunder held San Antonio to just 39.1 percent shooting and forced the Spurs to miss countless shots at the rim. Serge Ibaka was a big part of that defense under the basket, blocking five shots and altering many more. Ibaka finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds, his sixth double-double of the season. The Spurs also shot just 7-of-27 from 3-point range—1-of-11 in the first quarter. San Antonio came in shooting 40.5 percent from 3.

Related Story: Faith Rewarded: Ibaka Showing OKC Extension Was Right Move

Winning Ugly

The Thunder managed to beat the Spurs despite an atrocious offensive performance from Russell Westbrook. Westbrook scored just six points on 2-of-16 shooting from the field. He missed all five of his 3-point attempts. However, Westbrook contributed in other ways, dishing out eight assists and playing great defense on Tony Parker throughout the night.

Turning Point

Westbrook and Kevin Durant combined to go just 6-of-24 from the field in the first half, a big reason why the Thunder trailed, 46-43, at the break. The duo was pressing too much, forcing up shots and turning the ball over trying to make plays. In the third quarter, that changed. Durant and Westbrook became passers, setting up teammates for open looks. In the third period, the two took just nine shots while dishing out six assists. It wasn't a coincidence that OKC outscored San Antonio, 25-15, in the period.

Surprising Stat

The two teams combined for just 29 free throw attempts and Durant didn't take his first one until there was 2:56 remaining in the game. Durant came into the game averaging nearly 12.5 free throw attempts per game. He finished 3-of-3 from the charity stripe and had 24 points and 13 rebounds

Other Notes

-Steven Adams played only the final minute of the fourth quarter in the second half, but was the first off the bench once again in the first quarter. He entered for Kendrick Perkins at the 5:48 mark of the first quarter. Adams has been first off the bench in four of the past six games in which he didn't start. The last time he didn't play in the first quarter was against Dallas on Nov. 6.

-Ibaka scored the first 10 points of the third quarter to give OKC a 53-52 lead with 7:56 remaining in the quarter. Six of those points came on jump shots and the Thunder wouldn't trail again.

-Coach Scott Brooks began the second quarter with a B-team lineup of Jackson, Lamb, Nick Collison, Derek Fisher and Adams. The Thunder began the period down 21-19, but had a 28-26 lead when Durant re-entered the game at the 8:38 mark.

-Durant came in for Fisher because the veteran guard managed to pick up four personal fouls in 1:14 of game action, including three fouls on one possession.