The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder are playing on Sunday night in the western conference finals for Game 3 and OKC comes in needing a win as they are down 2-0 in the series and this matchup from Chesapeake Energy Arena starts up at 8:30 pm ET and will be streaming live and on the radio from TNT.
The team has been beat inside and outside, with San Antonio hitting tons of shots from long range, including from Danny Green, who propelled the team to a victory in the last game. The Spurs led the league in assists during the season and they have averaged more during the playoffs and that ball movement has helped Parker and Ginobili on the offensive end.
Oklahoma City has come back from two games down against the Spurs in the past, but both teams are very different this time around and even with Ibaka coming back, it could be too little too late for the Thunder. The Spurs assumed Ibaka would come back and they were correct and now the team will have to prepare for his size in the middle. Durant is looking to avoid the sweep in the west finals in the same year that he won the MVP award and this series comes after OKC won all four games against San Antonio during the regular season.
The Thunder come into the series after winning against the Memphis Grizzlies and they are struggling to get back into things as they return home and this will be a big test for Durant and Westbrook. The Spurs took care of the Portland Trail Blazers in the last round and had rest coming into things after the Thunder played seven and they have taken quick advantage with Ibaka being out and this series could be over quickly if Oklahoma City doesn't recover on Sunday night.
The Thunder have been missing a defensive identity with Ibaka out and the team now has to try and bounce back against San Antonio on Sunday night and this matchup could give San Antonio a 3-0 lead in the series if they win. The west finals has been a lopsided affair and Durant will try and push the scales back to his team.