OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma City Thunder got younger.
Again.
It wasn't that long ago, OKC took the court with a lineup that looked more NCAA than NBA. Young guns, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Serge Ibaka. Everything but the letter jackets. Durant even called the team, "Thunder U."
But then came Wednesday, against the elder statesmen of the league. The San Antonio Spurs got older and the Thunder looked like they were getting younger and faster in the 94-88 victory inside Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Not like the Thunder stars are lining up to be extras on the set of the newest, "Cocoon" movie, but Reggie Jackson and Jeremy Lamb were so quick, so good and so dominant it's easy to forget the rest of this team isn't exactly aged.
They, Jackson and Lamb – not Durant and not Westbrook – carried the Thunder to a signature, coming of (young) age kind of win against the best team in the Western Conference. San Antonio came in 13-1 and winners of 11 in a row. They left impressed.
Spurs coach Greg Popovich said Reggie Jackson, "Kicked our ass. We couldn't guard him."
Spurs guard Patty Mills said Jackson was aggressive, fast and reminded him of Tony Parker.
Consider it some hearty praise, but also strongly consider it an opportunity to at least discuss the fact Lamb might be more than just a throw-in piece to the James Harden deal of a season ago.
"I was just trying to feel my way through and learn more and more each day," Lamb said. "My confidence has grown."
On a night when Russell wasn't Russell and Durant was closer to average than awesome, Lamb and Jackson combined for 35 points on 15-of-21 shooting. Serge Ibaka was great (17 points, 11 rebounds, five blocks), but the kids were pretty good, too.
"In a game like this, against a great opponent, it's great for their confidence and great for our team," said a guy who has played a few minutes, Derek Fisher.
"Those guys are the reason we won this basketball game," Durant said.
"I thought Jeremy came in and gave us energy on both ends," Brooks said. "Still, he's a younger player and is still understanding what we do. I think he played really good tonight. He gave us a spark."
Lamb was two-of-three in the second quarter, two-of-two in the third quarter and finished with 12 points. Jackson wound up 10-of-14 for 23 points doing a pretty good Westbrook impersonation. Remember, it's Jackson who started in the playoffs last year when Westbrook was out and it's Jackson who's the best player not named Westbrook or Durant at finishing, creating and taking over games.
Westbrook went 2-of-16 from the field. It took Durant 23 shots to get to 24 points.
"Just another athletic backcourt, trying to find shots for ourselves and others," Jackson said.
Hmm, kinda reminds you of another young duo, doesn't it?
Follow Andrew Gilman on Twitter: @andrewgilmanOK
