Thunder Quotes After Huge Win Over Blazers

Kevin Durant

On hitting huge late 3s:

"Yeah I told my team I seen something at the top of the key.  Batum's such a long defender, man, but he was giving me some space and I just needed a little bit of space to get my shot off.  I felt good from the 3-point line all game and I was able to knock those 3's down for us."

On team's winning mentality:

"I just like how we're playing hard, we're moving the basketball. We missed some shots, but that happens. But we're just playing for each other. That's what we have to do, we have to stick together no matter what.  

On defensive resiliency:

"Defensively I think we're doing a good job of using our length. Teams have been hitting 3s and tough shots on us but we haven't gotten down on ourselves. We haven't felt sorry for ourselves, we just kept playing and tonight's another case."

On Kendrick Perkins:

"A lot of you guys don't know the small things he does for us.  His intelligence on both ends of the floor and to hit a huge shot like that, especially a jump shot…I heard a lot of people screaming ‘NO' as he shot it…he just has so much confidence in hisself and we have so much confidence in him.  That was a huge shot.  He played hard defense all game and to see him get rewarded with that is pretty special. I ride with Perk 'til the wheels fall off and I'm glad he hit that shot."

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Scott Brooks

On Kendrick Perkins' great game:

"I thought Perk was really good tonight. Obviously he made the shot on the baseline, but defensively he's guarding one of the best shot-makers (Aldridge) in the game.  That has good size, good range, I thought (Perkins) did a good job of staying with him.  In the first half, (Aldridge) was making shots, you didn't think he was ever going to miss.  But I thought in the fourth quarter, (Perkins) held him to taking some tough shots and then missing them.  I thought he was really good — big part of our win."

On team's resiliency:

"It was a game that we just fought. We had a couple of opportunities to put our head down, and you all know this is why we love this team, they don't do that.  (Portland) had everything going for them. They had a double-digit lead a couple of times, we fought back."

On physical nature of the game:

"It was a physical basketball game and neither team was getting to the free-throw line or getting fouls called.  I like the way both teams stood up and took the challenge."

On Durant's technical foul:

"I think it got the crowd fired up, definitely got our guys more so locked in defensively."

Happy for Perk after his big jumper:

"Yeah he stepped up and made it.  One thing about Perk, he plays for the team.  I'm not the smartest guy in the world but I'm pretty good with chemistry and that's what he brings.  He brings toughness and he brings a fiber that it's all about the team."

On appreciating Durant's greatness while still managing to coach:

"There's no question we are seeing an amazing player develop in front of our eyes.  That's one of the big reasons why I started wearing my glasses during the game, so that I could see that.  He's an amazing young man that takes a lot of pride in what he does, and how he plays, and how he represents our city.  He was raised the right way, he cares about doing the right things.  Smart player, a great player, great teammate.  I love the guy and I'm proud of the way he represents us and he does it every night."

Kendrick Perkins

On defending LaMarcus Aldridge:

"I talked to coach after the third quarter and he asked my if I was gonna start fronting him. I said no, he just gonna have to bust my head on these fadeaway college 3s if that's what it is. I'm not fronting him, so if he's makin' ‘em he's makin' ‘em but that's what we have to do."

On Kevin Durant's run:

"I've played with some pretty good players, man, but what he's doing right now is on a whole ‘nother level.  His confidence in them 3s he's hitting. I don't know, like, he's in a zone. And I'm happy for him."

On his big shot:

"I was like, ‘if he passes it to me, it's going up' so I just shot it.  I work on that shot every day of practice." 

On if he prefers to play this physical play-style:

"Yup. I think that's what we all want, all our bigs.  I know Steven and myself, we pray for games like this where you just do whatever you want."