Nuggets at Thunder
THE STORY: The Denver Nuggets knew that Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook would likely do the bulk of the damage in their Western Conference quarterfinal series with the Oklahoma City Thunder. They'll need to do a much better job of containing the dynamic duo in Game 2 of the best-of-seven series Wednesday night in Oklahoma City. The Thunder escaped with a 107-103 win behind a combined 72 points from their two young superstars.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE THUNDER: Durant (41) and Westbrook (31) both set career playoff highs in Game 1, but it still took some late heroics - highlighted by a controversial non-call - to pull out the win. Kendrick Perkins' tip-in with 1:05 remaining put the Thunder ahead for good, but the basket should have been disallowed due to offensive goaltending. The referees allowed the shot to count despite pleas from Nuggets players and coaches, and Denver appeared rattled on its next possession, settling for a missed 21-footer from Kenyon Martin. The Thunder held on from there for their third win over the Nuggets in the past 13 days.
ABOUT THE NUGGETS: Frustration reigned following Sunday's season-opening loss, and most of it was directed at the officials. The league admitted the referees made a mistake in allowing the basket to count, which did little to placate Denver coach George Karl. “What can I say? It’s tough," he said. When you fight hard, it’s hard because guys give you everything you possibly can give there.” The Nuggets received more bad news Monday when they learned Arron Afflalo will miss Game 2 with a strained hamstring. Afflalo missed Game 1 with the injury, and his status for the rest of the series remains up in the air.
WHO'S HOT/WHO'S NOT: Durant was a one-man army in the opener, hitting on 13 of 22 shots from the field while going 12 of 15 from the free-throw line. Nuggets center Nene was Denver's best player in Game 1, scoring 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting while adding eight rebounds and a pair of steals.
KEY STATISTIC: 9-4 - Oklahoma City's edge in 3-pointers made in Game 1. The Thunder shot 47.4 percent from beyond the arc while limiting Denver to just 25 percent from long range.
LAST WORD: “I saw it come off the rim and got a hand on it,” Perkins said. “I didn’t question it.”