Jan 8, 2020 3 min read Bolts

Wednesday Bolts: 01.08.20

Brandon Rahbar recaps the Oklahoma City Thunder’s thrilling overtime win against the Brooklyn Nets.

Rahbar was also a guest on the Thunder After Dark podcast:

?THUNDER AFTER DARK?@JonMHamm and guest @BrandonRahbar from @dailythunder

?OKC wins in OT 111-103
?CP3 4Q and OT takeover
?Thunder defense suffocates in OT
?Holding Dinwiddie in check
?Star Wars and Lowered Expectations

Subscribe!https://t.co/AMpLaHH9sV
— OKC Dream Team (@OKCDreamTeam) January 8, 2020

Joe Mussatto (The Oklahoman) with five takeaways from the win in Brooklyn.

The story of last night’s triumph is Chris Paul’s continued clutch-time dominance. People are really beginning to notice the special season CP3 has put together thus far:

understand his limitations but i swear Chris Paul has one of if not the most brilliant basketball mind we’ll ever see
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) January 8, 2020

that wasnt a clinic…that was a lecture. CP3 is a walking breathing encyclopedia of situational gameplay. he just always knows.
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) January 8, 2020

Who knows what the future holds with Chris Paul and that $44M contract in 2021/22. Right now he’s healthy, playing at an All-Star level and has OKC with a firm grasp on a playoff spot.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) January 8, 2020

What a show in this fourth quarter from Chris Paul. Crunchtime master.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) January 8, 2020

I can't believe the Rockets traded Chris Paul
— JaysonTatUmaThurMannieFresh (@SnottieDrippen) January 8, 2020

Chris Paul is shooting 55 freakin’ percent from mid-range this year. That is insane.
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) January 8, 2020

If it wasn't already an accepted fact, let this season show – once & for all – that if Chris Paul is on your team, you will have a feisty, irritating & highly-competitive squad. CP = Cannot Pushover.
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) January 8, 2020

It’s worth mentioning again that CP3 has been insane in the clutch:

Chris Paul scored 20 of his 28 points in the 4Q and OT tonight.

CP has 105 points in the clutch this season (5-point games in the last 5 minutes) — the most in the NBA. pic.twitter.com/WRlM4CWxLW
— StatMuse (@statmuse) January 8, 2020

Oh, and Paul is also a pretty good fellow–continuing to seek out Thunder fans on the road:

You gotta love Chris Paul ? pic.twitter.com/P6omjqMhFt
— Steve McGehee (@SteveMcGehee) January 8, 2020

Don’t call it a flashback though:

“Flashback? From what?”

Chris Paul after scoring 20 of his 28 PTS in the 4th & OT.

pic.twitter.com/zqmUX5QKqW
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) January 8, 2020

Casey Stern, Grant Hill, Candace Parker, and Isiah Thomas of NBA TV discuss how Paul is playing with no pressure in OKC.

Bryan Kalbrosky (Hoops Hype) digs into the success of the Thunder’s three point-guard lineup. “Paul, Gilgeous-Alexander and Schroder have played 206 minutes together so far. During that time, they have outscored opponents by a ridiculous 26.7 points per 100 possessions. Their offensive rating (125.9) has been the best in the NBA among all three-man lineups with as much playing time together.”

Kevin Durant, now with the Nets, apparently stopped by the Thunder locker room after the game to say hello:

After the game, KD stopped by the Thunder hallway to say hello to some familiar faces.
— Steve McGehee (@SteveMcGehee) January 8, 2020

Russell Westbrook was asked about his emotions in advance of his first game in Oklahoma City as a member of the Houston Rockets, and, no surprise, Westbrook had nothing but positive things to say about OKC:

Russell Westbrook on returning to Oklahoma City: "Obviously it's going to be different. That place is always going to be special to me because I grew up there. I spent a big part of my career there, met a lot of people there… " pic.twitter.com/zJuaDUFBFE
— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) January 6, 2020

Members of The Athletic staff shared their favorite Westbrook memories from their time covering him in OKC: Anthony Slater … Fred Katz … Darnell Mayberry … Brett Dawson.

Paul George anticipates that Westbrook will receive a very positive reception tomorrow night. In other news, water is wet, the sky is blue, and Chris Paul just made another clutch-time mid-range jumper.

Clippers’ Paul George on Russell Westbrook’s upcoming return to OKC: “Russell means way more than I did in Oklahoma, and I got a standing ovation. I expect nonstop cheering. Nonstop appreciation. I’m guessing the cheering will be off the radar, as if it isn’t Loud City already.” pic.twitter.com/ztvthfYryQ
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) January 8, 2020

Jenni Carlson (The Oklahoman) with an excellent feature on why the new City Uniforms, which premiere on Thursday, are so important. “On Thursday, OKC will debut its new “City” uniforms, designed to pay homage to those affected by the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. A striking combination of charcoal and bronze, numerous details will be familiar to Oklahomans. The Survivor Tree on the waistbands. The Gates of Time on the side panels. But for people outside of the state, the symbolism may be foreign. And for some, the bombing itself may be unknown.”

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