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RealClearSports Oklahoma City

'Moore War' a Testament to Strength

Chuck Culpepper, Sports on Earth

Thunder Find 1 Star Not Bright Enough

Eric Freeman, Ball Don't Lie

Crunch Time Too Crunchy for Thunder

Darnell Mayberry, Oklahoman

Sometimes, because I'm a wacko, I stop on autumn Friday nights and think about all the football dramas playing out in the vast, vast land. I think about some absurdly good running...(full article)

When Russell Westbrook went down in Game 2 against the Houston Rockets, the Oklahoma City Thunder knew that their ability to fulfill their championship aspirations would be seriou...(full article)

If you're tired of missing Russell Westbrook, mentally worn down from wondering what might have been, here's a change of pace, Thunder fans. Go back to missing James Harden. Reme...(full article)

Crunch time is costing the Thunder. After three straight cracks at clearing that hurdle, it's becoming increasingly clear that Oklahoma City, playing without its All-Star point g...(full article)

These are the times when the rubber chicken circuit brings out the best in college football coaches.   To be more specific, it brings out unfiltered, unvarnished honesty. And...(full article)

More Recent Articles

He Stoops to New Low in Logic

It's easy to understand how athletes, coaches, administrators, fans and, yes, even slightly homerish media members who sit on the outskirts of the SEC's footprint might become si...

Thunder Surrender Home-Court Edge

This time, Mike Conley dominated crunch time. This time, the Grizzlies won the final two minutes. And now Memphis is in command of this Western Conference semifinal series. Memphi...

Thunder Find a Way to Fill Void

OKLAHOMA CITY -- An hour before tipoff at Chesapeake Energy Arena, the blond wood-paneled doors to Russell Westbrook's locker were shut tight. The black Aeron chair where Westbroo...

Thunder Acknowledge They Can't Win It All

There’s little debate that Oklahoma City’s chances of holding a victory parade in June took a hit the moment it was announced that Russell Westbrook would be on an operating t...

A Heavy Load for Durant

And so, in less than a year, here in the first round pitting the Thunder against the stubborn Rockets, we find Kevin Durant without the two trusted sidekicks who helped OKC reach ...

Durant Keeps Thunder Rolling on Wild Day

HOUSTON — Kevin Durant put all the body English he could muster into his final field-goal attempt, crouching, leaning, directing, or better yet begging, the basketball to go in ...

Feeling the Pain in the NBA Playoffs

Russell Westbrook got hurt when Patrick Beverley did what Russell Westbrook does all the time: Keep playing hard until the whistle.   The debate today is about Westbrook&rsqu...

Durant's Finishing Effort Repels Rockets

Kevin Durant scored 15 first-quarter points, made six of 11 shots and looked like he was headed for an historic night. Historic? No. Heroic? Yes. Durant dominated the final 200 se...

'The Beard' Creates Hairy Situation in OKC

The Beard lies crumpled in a back corner of Ronnie Ketch's store. Last summer during the NBA Playoffs, he turned the front of his home interior business into a huge tribute to Jam...

Durant's Task in Season Finale? Hit 70

Kevin Durant's reign as the NBA's best scorer will come to an end Wednesday night. Unless, of course, the Thunder forward finds a way to post 70 points in his team's regular-seaso...

Stoops on Athlete Stipends: Shut Up and Play!

There’s no avoiding it now. One social outrage has been identified and exorcised, and another has been teed up. Goodbye, BCS. Hello, pay for play. And you know what Bob Stoops th...

Playoff Pressure Could Unravel Thunder

While Miami has already claimed dominion over the Eastern Conference, even the West’s most convincing contenders remain bogged down by the prospect of running an exhausting pos...

Knicks Add Some Thunder to Win Streak

The precise moment when the Knicks’ self-resuscitating winning streak turned from impressive to charmed came Sunday afternoon, on the court of the N.B.A.’s most dazzling youn...

Thunder Storm Swamps Outmanned Spurs

Russell Westbrook hurried the ball upcourt, 20 seconds into the game, and passed to Thabo Sefolosha for a dunk. Then he swiped a San Antonio pass and took the ball the distance h...

System, Depth Spur Victory Over Thunder

The Thunder and the Spurs aren’t merely rival powers in the competitive Western Conference, but fitting foils in their stylistic contrast. Oklahoma City relies heavily on t...

Heard About Trey Johnson? His Story is Ours

Thursday night happened, and the world went looking for Trey Johnson. We were calling his school, his coach, his friends. Anyone got a number for Trey? Please pass it on. We have ...

Lakers Looking Like Team for the Aged

With 5:06 left in the game, the whistle blew, and referee David Jones called Russell Westbrook for traveling. It was the Thunder's second turnover of the game. And the Thunder's la...

Ibaka's Whack Proves Playoff Intensity Here

According to the schedule, the NBA playoffs don’t officially start until six weeks from this Saturday. Don’t you believe it. Ask Blake Griffin when they start, assuming...

Thunder's 2-Man Show May Flop in Playoffs

They make the incredible look so routine, Kevin Durant flipping up crazy shots that somehow go in and Russell Westbrook wildly contorting his body on blow-by-everyone drives to th...

Thunder Get Good View of What's Missing

So this is what it feels like, seeing him raise those hands and curl those fingers, watching him pop his jersey, enlarging the script of his hometown team, one you don’t ro...

Heat Continue to Rain on Thunder

The last time the Miami Heat left Chesapeake Energy Arena, Dwyane Wade turned to a member of the Miami Heat staff and said, "I think we got this."   That was after the Heat ti...

Westbrook a Hothead With Hot Hand

Peter Pan was back in business Thursday night. You know. Russell Westbrook. The mischievous boy who can fly and who never grows up. Westbrook barked at the genteel Thabo Sefolosha...

Strong Statement by Thunder

LOS ANGELES — In the end, the Los Angeles Clippers did not have enough. Not without Chris Paul. Not against Kevin Durant. Not when the Oklahoma City Thunder strolled into town,...

No. 1 vs. No. 2: Thunder Leave No Doubt

When Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and the rest of their Thunder teammates showed up at Staples Center, they were supposed to find a fellow conference heavyweight, a formidable...

Thunder Not Going Soft Without Harden

A few nights ago as his team prepared to play the team with the best record in basketball, Denver Nuggets coach George Karl was asked if he thought the Oklahoma City Thunder’...

Could Durant Retire as Best Scorer Ever?

Denver Nuggets guard Andre Iguodala has said three-time scoring champ Kevin Durant might someday retire as the NBA's all-time scorer. Durant would have to pass Wilt Chamberlain (3...

Beal Helps 5-Win Wizards Stun Thunder

Bradley Beal was dragging, having logged more minutes than anyone else, and complaining during an earlier timeout that he was tired. Coach Randy Wittman saw the 19-year-old slouc...

How BCS Upstart, Hurricane Stymied Sooners

When the bowl assignments came out on Dec. 2, the Sooners felt maligned. Northern Illinois’ ascension into the BCS’ top 16 gave the Huskies a spot in the Orange Bowl and knoc...

Westbrook on Target as Thunder Roll

Just when he started to sizzle, showing signs of finally shaking his season-long shooting slump, Russell Westbrook suddenly pulled his superstitious act. Before an entire question...

Oklahoma Gets Chance to Stop Johnny Football

Heeeeeeeeere's Johnny! Ed McMahon introduced Johnny Carson for years with the drawn-out catchphrase on “The Tonight Show,” which happened to feature Texas A&M's Heisman Troph...

A First for Durant, the Worst for Thunder

The most frustrating night of Thunder basketball this season came complete with the first ejection of Kevin Durant's career. You read that right. Kevin Durant got ejected. It was ...

Thunder Wake Up, Hammer Rockets

HOUSTON —For 20 minutes Saturday night, the Thunder seemed to be sleepwalking. The defense was dreadful. The offensive was all over the place. The Thunder just didn't seem inter...

Heat's Message: Nothing's Changed

Playoffs in December? The holiday monochromatic uniforms said otherwise.    The early technical fouls on LeBron James and Kevin Durant, though, spoke volumes.   ...

Lesson Learned, Thunder Savor Rematch

The experience is an essential one, perhaps even a rite of passage for all seeking to be the last team standing. For the Oklahoma City Thunder, their 4-1 series loss to Miami in la...

Thunder's Baker's Dozen Yanked Out of Oven

The same old pint-sized pest plagued the Thunder once again. J.J. Barea, a chronic thorn in the Thunder's collective side since the Western Conference Finals two years ago, virtua...

Thunder Already in Postseason Form

One hundred and twenty-four days. That's how long you have to wait until the NBA Playoffs, Thunder fans. And in case you were wondering, it's going to feel like a long wait. Tha...

Thunder Brings Pacers to a Halt

Roy Hibbert got by his defender, caught the ball in the paint and had a clear path to the basket. Until he didn't. Russell Westbrook swooped in and swatted away the big fello...

The Quiet Thunder of Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant stepped onto the court at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn Tuesday around 7 p.m., joining his teammates from the Oklahoma City Thunder in the customary pregame ritual ...

Sooners Celebrate Half a Big 12 Title

FORT WORTH, Texas -- On Thursday, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops gathered his team and informed the players that if they beat TCU on Saturday, they would be receiving championship ring...

Don't Expect Drama in TCU-Oklahoma

In college football, there's only one Oklahoma.   You shouldn't need the stirring pregame video at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium to tell you that.   Seven nat...

Harden Hard-Pressed in Return to OKC

The Thunder faithful gave James Harden a rousing and ringing ovation before the game. It was the highlight of his night. Going against his old team for the first time since an Octo...

Newcomers Power Sooners' Air Attack

NORMAN — Facing a second straight Bedlam loss and the season’s third home defeat, Oklahoma turned to a pair of newcomers. Justin Brown and Jalen Saunders, along with OU vetera...

Thunder Stubbornly Clutching West Title

The Thunder isn't ready to concede the Western Conference just yet. On a night the boys in blue beat the Clippers 117-111 in overtime, they served notice that they are still a for...

Durant Makes It Look Easy

Oklahoma City -- Kevin Durant found Eric Maynor in the corner for an open three-pointer Sunday night, sprinted back to his defensive position, bent over at the waist and couldn't ...

James-Durant Rivalry Just Beginning

For years, the LeBron/Kobe rivalry was the most compelling one in basketball, but we never truly got to see it play out on the court. Sure, their teams would play each other twic...

Despite Odds, Thunder Believe

A 3-1 series hole hung over the Thunder's head like the blanket of clouds that have swept in and stolen South Beach's scenic nature the past two days. History says this team is ...

How Thunder Can Still Win Title

Kevin Durant, fourth-quarter Superman. After Game 1, it looked as though Durant might well have the best-player-in-the-league torch passed to him. Durant scored 36 points in tha...

LeBron's Performance Flawless

LeBron James was flawless. If James was playing quarterback, he would have had a near perfect rating. If he was a pitcher, he would have tossed a complete one-hitter. In a word, ...

Chalmers Makes Thunder Pay

In the two previous NBA Finals games, Kevin Durant ran into some serious foul which was not exactly high on the Thunder’s wish list. So last night, Oklahoma City tried keep...

Harden Has Another Rough Night

In the Thunder's 104-98 loss to the Miami Heat in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday night, Harden shot just 2 for 10 from the field, 1 for 5 from 3-point range, had four turno...

Heat Tougher, More Resourceful

Dwyane Wade landed on his tailbone. Given Wade’s vertical leap, it’s a long way down to the hardwood. He grimaced, clutched his lower back, rolled on the floor. It didn...

Heat 1 Win From Championship

LeBron James was accused of taking the easy way to his breakthrough championship, but the last two years have been anything but easy. He was five minutes and 49 seconds away from...

Going Small Working for Miami

It was a simple defensive switch -- the kind of defensive strategy that would have been considered a concession and a mistake in old-school Miami Heat thinking -- and it left Dwy...

OKC Must Overcome Doubt

It's come this far by coming back — from an 0-2 series hole in San Antonio, from double-digit deficits almost nightly throughout the playoffs. But this is unchartered terr...

Thunder Can't Match Heat Resolve

The championship is waiting for LeBron James now, within his grasp, a confluence borne of configuring his mind and body with the scattered state of these Oklahoma City Thunder. H...

Westbrook Not to Blame for Loss

After the Oklahoma City Thunder’s loss to the Miami Heat in Game 2, many people are placing the blame on Russell Westbrook. Westbrook took the most shots of anyone in the gam...

Perkins Not Made for These Finals

When the Oklahoma City Thunder traded Jeff Green for Kendrick Perkins in February 2011, the main draws were post defense and championship experience. Perk had helped the Boston C...

Heat Still Have Cause for Concern

They won. If you’re the Heat, you can just pack your bags, board the team charter and take the NBA Finals back to Miami, knowing that the series is now even after your 100-...

LeBron Gets Best of Durant in 4th

Kevin Durant got the ball in scoring position, with the game in the balance, and suddenly all was right in Thunderworld. The Thunder had played cruddy for 3 1/2 quarters Thursday n...

Controversial Non-Call the Right Call

“No question that’s a foul.” Those were ABC broadcaster Jeff Van Gundy’s final words on Thursday night’s broadcast, and the foul/non-foul will be sho...

Wade, Bosh Fail to Deliver

Kevin Durant, as so often is the case, knows the right thing to say. The Oklahoma City Thunder forward is not foolish enough to come into these NBA Finals and publicly contemplat...

Heat Stars Fade in 4th Quarter Again

Kevin Durant was the best player on the court. In the first of what will undoubtedly be many NBA Finals games in his career, Kevin Durant settled the Thunder at the beginning and...

Durant Outplays LeBron in Game 1

They are the two most explosive players in the game offensively, but it was the differing approaches at the less glamorous end of the floor that defined Kevin Durant and LeBron J...

Which Is Best Matchup for Thunder?

The Heat  have gotten by on the extraordinary talents of two players, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade -- and not necessarily in that order. The Celtics, meanwhile, continue to ...

Thunder 'Hollywood Script' Continues

Down 2-0 in the series, down 18 points in the first quarter, down 15 points at halftime, the Thunder continued to write a remarkable story. The Thunder rallied to beat the San A...

Spurs Embrace Challenge Ahead

So this was the moment the Spurs had been waiting for. Down 13 points to Oklahoma City, with little more than five minutes to play in a pivotal Game 5 of the Western Conference fi...

Can Anyone Stop the Thunder?

Here’s how good the Thunder are: Their offense went through the late-game yips again in their Game 5 win against the Spurs, with Russell Westbrook authoring perhaps the sin...

Spurs' Streak Gone, Series On

The longest winning streak in franchise history was still warm Thursday, having been euthanized moments earlier in a brutal 102-82 loss to Oklahoma City in Game 3 of the Western ...

Spurs' Invincibility Disappears

The Spurs hadn't lost since April 11, had lost only twice in 33 games since March 21, and now all they have to show for it is a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference Finals. San A...

Game 3 Telling Moment for Thunder

Tiago Splitter was intentionally fouled away from the ball by Oklahoma City's Kendrick Perkins, then again 14 seconds later by Perkins, then again nine seconds later by Nick Coll...

Thunder Can't Stop Spurs' Parker

The San Antonio Spurs are up 2-0 in the Western Conference finals, but they nearly lost because they got away from what was working so well for them. It's obvious that Oklahoma C...

Do Thunder Have Any Hope?

The Thunder had a plan for defending the Spurs’ deadly pick-and-roll attack, and the plan has failed miserably. That leaves two options: 1. Be better at the plan. 2. Change ...

Thunder Hope to Emulate Spurs

Greater San Antonio has 2.194 million residents. Little bit bigger than Sacramento, almost as big as Portland. Oklahoma City's television market ranks 45th in America, just ahead ...

Youthful Thunder Ready to Test Spurs

How the Thunder can win They must simply overwhelm the Spurs with their superior speed, and quickness, as well as their considerable edge in overall talent. Kevin Durant's high-...

Gritty, Satisfying Win for Thunder

Want to know what frustration looks like? His reaction after the Lakers missed their last shot to save themselves from a late-game, road-playoff collapse said it all. Thunder 77,...

Paul, Clippers Finish Off Thunder

The media had formed a semi-circle around an exhausted-looking Chris Paul sitting inside theClippers' locker room, the group waiting for the All-Star guard to explain how...

Heat Get Revenge on Thunder

If the Heat and Thunder meet again this season, it won’t be until the NBA Finals. And what an epic series that would be. It’s going to be hard to wait until June. Less ...

Cavs Snap Thunder's Home Streak

This is why the Thunder's veterans have preached consistency. They knew that, sooner or later, the good fortune wouldn't be there for them in the fourth quarter. They knew that, ...

Short-Handed Hawks Top Thunder

How did the short-handed Hawks measure up against the NBA’s best? Just fine, thank you. The Hawks won 97-90 over the Oklahoma City Thunder, who entered the game with the top...

Thunder Blow Lead, Fall to Kings

The Sacramento Kings closed out the game with a 19-6 scoring spurt to post a 106-101 victory before a sellout crowd of 17,317 at Power Balance Pavilion. The scrappy Kings were ...

Ibaka Helps Thunder Beat Mavs

After a five-game playoff series last year, two preseason games to start this season and two more early regular season contests against the Dallas Mavericks, forward Serge Ibaka o...

Wizards Hand Thunder 3rd Loss

Jordan Crawford tossed the ball skyward from near halfcourt and John Wall soared to catch it and dunked with two hands. Wall swung on the rim, let out a guttural scream and viol...

5 Challengers for Next Season

1) Miami Heat You didn't really think they'd just go away, did you? Now that they couldn't cruise through the express lane at the check-out counter to buy a championship, the Hea...

Mavs Heading to NBA Finals

Five years, time that neither Dirk Nowitzki nor Jason Terry can ever get back. Five long years it’s taken for them to get back to the NBA Finals. The opportunity to avenge th...

Mavs' Time to Win Is Now

The Dallas Mavericks do not need external influences to create a sense of urgency. Their nine-man rotation, led by a gray-haired, all-time-great point guard, has a combined 103 sea...

Thunder Not Mature Enough

Maybe there will come a time years from now when they'll look back on it as a notch on the kitchen wall, providing tangible proof of how much they've grown. Or they'll wear it li...

Sensational Nowitzki Rescues Mavs

So if that miracle comeback in LA three weeks ago was the Dallas Mavericks' ticket-to-ride in these playoffs, then this one was ... what? Maybe after three decades of various pos...

Mean Streak Good for Thunder

Both Durant and Scotty Brooks called it their favorite dunks ever. ESPN's Jeff Van Gundy called it the NBA's play of the year. Mark Jackson called it one of the five best playoff ...

Westbrook 'Good' With Benching

At crunch time in Game 2 on Thursday night, he was missing in action. Despite logging 0:00 in the final quarter, Westbrook insisted he couldn't have been happier after the Oklahom...

Bench Helps Thunder Even Series

The Oklahoma City Thunder stole homecourt advantage with a 106-100 win in Game 2 of this Western Conference Finals, stunning a sold out American Airlines Center crowd before headi...

Randolph, Grizzlies Force Game 7

There will be a Game 7. Zach Randolph made sure of it by bringing lightning with a 30-point, 13-rebound performance in the Grizzlies’ 95-83 victory over the Oklahoma City Thu...

Last Stand for Grizzlies

The last drive to the arena. The last national anthem. The last home game of this magical, improbable year. Shane Battier is a free agent after this season. It could be the last t...

Thunder Throttle Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies never stood a chance. Oklahoma City cruised to a 99-72 cakewalk in Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead over the Grizzlies. The Thunder is now just one win awa...

Harden Is Thunder's X-Factor

While other players scored more, shot better from the field or secured more highlight-reel plays, Harden was simply solid. And it's his play that has proven to be the biggest ke...

Oklahoma City Sports News

NL Capsules

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Dodgers manager Don Mattingly criticized his team and benched All-Star right f...

Korea, Japan dominance eroded in As

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea and Japan's domination of eastern Asian football is being...