Thunder Show Fight in Game 3 Romp

Derek Fisher knew it would take an extraordinary effort to end one of the NBA’s longest winning streaks in recent memory. Going into Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals on Thursday night, he was confident the Oklahoma City Thunder would deliver on their home floor.

"Coach summed it up pretty good after the game a couple nights ago in San Antonio," Fish said. "We understood collectively that the Spurs did what they were supposed to do by winning games on their home court and now for us we have an opportunity to go home and protect our home court."

Everything came together for the Thunder in a Game 3 win (Getty Images).

So when the Thunder came out and ran roughshod over the Spurs, piecing together a 20-point win to cut their series deficit in half, Fish wasn’t the least bit surprised.

Derek managed five points, four assists and three rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench on Thursday night as Oklahoma City made it 2-1 in the Western Conference Finals with a 102-82 victory over San Antonio. OKC’s win snapped a 20-game winning streak for the Spurs, dating back 10 games into the regular season and more than 50 days. But Derek said the victory came down to the Thunder simply executing the way they are capable of.

"We just did a better job in doing the things we discuss before the game," he said. "Playing hard, playing together, sharing the basketball, playing intense, passionate defense. It came together for us on the floor tonight."

Fish entered the game late in the first quarter with The Thunder clinging to a 16-15 edge. The game would end up tied twice — a D-Fish jumper with 1:18 to go knotted it at 20 — and the lead changed hands three more times before the end of the quarter, which began with San Antonio in front 24-22.

Manu Ginobili scored the opening salvo of the second, burying a three to put the Spurs up five, but the Thunder answered when D-Fish dished to Nick Collison, who sank a jumper to cut the deficit back to three. Collison’s bucket kicked off an 18-3 OKC run as the home team pulled ahead by 10. At halftime, their lead was 13.

Derek and the Thunder offense clicked from start to finish (Getty Images).

The Thunder offense continued to push the tempo in the second half and by the time Derek checked back in with 3:04 left in the third, OKC was sporting an 18-point lead. Moments later, he made it 22 with a 24-footer trey off the James Harden feed. He added three assists in the fourth as they cruised to victory.

Though their offense was clicking, it was on the defensive end that the Thunder really shined, holding a San Antonio team that scored more than 100 points in 18 of their last 20 games to just 82. They did so by closing out on shooters and giving outstanding effort inside and out throughout the game. Derek did his part, drawing a pair of charges early in the game and showing quick hands on defense to disrupt a few Spurs plays. OKC forced San Antonio in 21 turnovers over the course of the evening.

"You don’t have a choice when you play against the Spurs," Derek said. "They move the ball well, they play together and they trust each other. So defensively, you don’t have a choice in terms of multiple efforts, rotations, closing out hard. Every possession, you have to do it. We weren’t necessarily perfect tonight, but we did a better job of really being active on the defensive end."

LESSONS FROM "THE BOOK OF FISHER"
Thursday night’s game was Derek’s 221st in postseason play, passing former teammate Kobe Bryant for first on the active list and third on the all-time list.

Only another former teammate, Robert Horry (244) and Laker great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (237) have played in more postseason games. Derek’s plethora of playoff games has brought him a special kind of wisdom and he’s been happy to share that with his Oklahoma City teammates. According to teammate Nazr Mohammed, they’ve taken to calling his words "The Book of Fisher."

"Things that I share with these guys, for me, obviously it comes from my experiences, sharing what I’ve been through," he said. "But at the same time this locker room is full of guys that, though they are young, they want to be successful very badly and they’re open-minded, willing to do whatever it takes. So it’s not so much about taking what I say and doing it on the floor. I think they appreciate the things that I offer. It’s a great group of guys to work with."

Fish councils his teammates during a break in the action (Getty Images).

During the third quarter of Wednesday’s game, TNT’s camera caught Fish imparting that wisdom to his teammates during a timeout. TNT analyst Reggie Miller said Derek was likely telling his teammates to "put the foot on