Stephens Basketball Report: Thunder captures Western Conference Championship

Robert Stephens, Featured Writer

OKC takes the West.

May 7, 2012 - The Seattle Supersonics selected Kevin Durant in the 2007 NBA draft just before their move to the city of Oklahoma. Durant a freshmen was the number two pick in that draft out of the University of Texas and the rest is history.

History will show that Durant in the year 2012 has led a young club to the finals of the NBA Championship. The seven game series will start on Tuesday in Oklahoma.

The Thunder defeated a veteran San Antonio Spurs team 107-99 Wednesday to take that series 4-2. Durant playing 48 minutes led the home team with 34 points and 14 rebounds.

The Thunder who trailed by 15 points at the half came storming back led their leader Kevin Durant outscoring the Spurs 59-36 in the second half.

James Harden played a key role in OKC's victory.

“There’s not much to complain about”, Spurs veteran Manu Ginobili said at his teams post game press conference. We just couldn’t beat those guys.”

“I told the coaches that I could go all night, I didn’t thing they would let me do it”, Durant said at the teams post game press conference. “But they kept me in and I just tried to give my team a spark.”

“Its an amazing moment for him to play like this in this moment, in this setting, and I wasn’t going to take him out,” Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks said at his post game press conference.

The Thunder started the third quarter with an 11-2 run and never looked back. The Thunder took the lead 79-77 on Durant’s three pointer with 1:41 remaining in the third quarter.

“The third quarter, it was like playing in mud”, said Spurs head coach Greg Popovich said at his teams post game press conference. “So that was our downfall as much as anything”.

Russell Westbrook chipped in with 25 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. James Harden added 16 points, five rebounds and four assists. Serge Ibaka the surprise in this years playoff contributed 10 points and four rebounds.

The Spurs were led by Tony Parker’s 29 points and 12 assists. Tim Duncan chipped in with 25 points and 14 rebounds. Stephen Jackson added 23 points for the losers.