The 2014 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs has seen the home team handily win each of the first five games in the series. If that pattern holds true tonight in Game 6, then we’ll be looking at Game 7 in Texas deciding who moves on to face the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals.
Game 5 was especially tough for OKC and its fans as the Spurs blew the game open in the third quarter and coasted to a relatively easy victory. The Thunder will need to tighten up on defense tonight if they hope to stay alive when we watch Thunder vs Spurs online free live streaming on TNT Overtime on Saturday night.
Thunder forward Serge Ibaka returned from injury in Game 3 and helped OKC sure up their defense and beat the favored Spurs two games in a row. Many thought that shift in momentum would have stayed intact when Game 5 shifted back to San Antonio, but the Spurs brushed off Ibaka’s presence in the paint and easily won 117-89.
The key for the Spurs was spreading the floor and letting perimeter players do damage from the outside-in. Matt Bonner got a rare start, his first of the year, and Boris Diaw started the second half. Greg Popovich made these calculated moves to get Ibaka away from the basket and it worked like a charm as Spurs slashed to the basket regularly.
Now the Thunder will have to counter San Antonio’s strategy with some of their own. They can’t afford a repeat of Game 5 or else it’s off to the links for the summer. Whether it’s more double teams or letting the Spurs have open shots from the perimeter, something will have to change.
The expectation is that Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook will come out gunning tonight and playing with more intensity. Durant admitted in post-Game 5 interviews that the Thunder weren’t intense enough. They’ll need every drop of it left on the floor tonight.
Below you will find all the pertinent information to watch the Spurs Thunder game live online free streaming on TNT Overtime or on your TV. Our prediction is that the home team winning streak ends tonight and a rematch of last year’s NBA Finals will be finalized.
Start Time: 8:30pm EST / 5:30pm PST
Location: Chesapeake Energy Arena, OKC
Where to Watch on TV: TNT
Live Stream: TNT Overtime or TNT Overtime App on iPads and phones
Final Score Prediction: Spurs 106, Thunder 101
