By George Devine, Sr.

The Oklahoma City Thunder took game 3 in the west from the San Antonio Spurs, 106-97, to head off a sweep and make it a 2-1 series. The hometown crowd roared with enthusiasm after the team’s return from Texas, and even more so when Serge Ibaka was seen in uniform and ready to play. The popular and effective defender was considered finished for the year with a calf strain but was back in action for just under thirty minutes. He made the difference, and likely prevented more points than he scored.

Ibaka did score 15 points, or an average of a point every two minutes. Just as importantly, he had 4 blocks and 7 rebounds, 5 of them on defense. He was not the high scorer. That honor went ot Russell Westbrook with 26; he also contributed 7 valuable assists and 8 boards. Kevin Durant was close behind in points with 25 and had 10 rebounds. Reggie Jackson matched Ibaka at 15 points and had 5 assists.

Oklahoma City outscored San Antonio in all quarters but the first, and dominated from the floor with a 45.7 percentage as distinct from the visitors’ 39.6; the Spurs led in the other offensive categories, however (93.8-85.9 from the line and 38.5-27.8 on treys).

For the Spurs, Manu Ginobili hit for 23, Tim Duncan had 16 points and 8 rebounds; Kawhi Leonard had 10 points and Tony Parker was held to 9.

The series continues with Game 4 at 9 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 27.