Poor Shooting By Durant Costs Thunder Game 2

On Monday, April 20, 2016, the Oklahoma City Thunder met the Dallas Mavericks in the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma for Game 2 of the first round of their Western Conference Playoff Series. In their previous meeting, the Thunder basically demolished the worn out Mavericks who are struggling mightily with health concerns, beating them 108-70. This game however, had a very different result, and it was mainly due to a horrible shooting performance by Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant. Durant, who made 47 percent of his shots in Game 1, played absolutely terribly missing 26 shots going 7-33. This was arguably the worst playoff performance in Durant's entire career. Credit should be given to the tough defense of the Mavs, but there were times when Durant just missed on wide open shots that he barely ever misses. Nonetheless, Durant's poor shooting cost the Thunder a 84-85 loss in Game 2 of their best-of-seven series against the Mavs, and the Thunder will need to win at least once on the road in order to advance to the Western Conference Semi-finals against either the Memphis Grizzlies or, more likely, the San Antonio Spurs.
The game started off very differently than Game 1 for the Thunder. Dallas was actually making their shots, especially their three-point attempts, and Durant playing horribly, missing three-pointers, midrange jumpers, even layups, and turning the ball over multiple times. By the end of the period, Dallas had shocked the Thunder up 24-20, but many fans weren't very concerned because it was still early in the game and Durant would most likely heat up later.
The second quarter was a little better for the home fans, as the Thunder outscored the Mavs 23-21, and Durant hit his first three, but they were still trailing by two at halftime, and Durant still hadn't had much of an effect on the game as most thought he would.
In the third quarter, the Thunder were able to grab a three-point lead, but they were still concerned. The Mavs just wouldn't seem to go away, and despite the fact that Durant had made a few shots, he was still throwing up bricks and just didn't seem to get in the rythym many know he is capable of.
In the final quarter, the Mavs came fighting back. The teams traded baskets back-and-forth for the first three and a half minutes of the game, and by the 8:37 mark, the Thunder were up one, but Dallas guard Devin Harris was headed to the free throw line to shoot two and potentially give Dallas back the lead. He drained them both, and after a few empty possessions from both teams, Dion Waiters came back with an and-one jumper to give OKC a two-point 71-69 lead with 7:43 remaining. After a steal by Enes Kanter, OKC increased their lead to four after a made basket by Durant, and the crowd went wild. However, the Mavs were not to go away yet. They fought back hard, and with just 4:18 remaining, feisty guard Raymond Felton drained a shot to give the Dallas Mavericks a 79-78 lead. They continued to battle, and with 17 seconds left, Wesley Matthews of the Mavericks made a layup to give the Mavs a 4 point lead. Durant came in with the next play and drained a three with 9 seconds left, but it was still Mavs ball. Felton missed to free throws on the ensuing possession, but Steven Adams buzzer-beater to win was just a little to late giving the Mavs a win.