Thunder Beats CSKA Moscow in First Home Exhibition Game

Oklahoma City fans filled the Ford Center for the first look at the Thunder on the home court this season against CSKA Moscow.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 11:59 am

By: News On 6

Thunder Beats CSKA Moscow in First Home Exhibition Game

Originally Published: Oct 14, 2010 10:32 PM CDT

Layna Dewell
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

Oklahoma City—The Oklahoma City Thunder hosted CSKA Moscow Thursday in OKC’s first home exhibition game.

The Thunder began the game with fast breaks and drawing fouls down low, which led to their first five points all coming off free throws.

Midway through the first quarter Oklahoma City went on an 11-0 run helped by Serge Ibaka’s three blocks and two steals from James Harden.

The Thunder led 58-48 at the end of the first half due to great ball movement and help from Kevin Durant who came out and scored 20 points on 8-of-10 from the field and four-of-five from the three point line in the first half.

Despite Durant’s big first half, his help in the second came solely off of rebounds and assists, not taking a single shot in the second half. In the end, Durant finished with 20 points, five rebounds, seven assists and seven turnovers.

The third quarter saw a scoring drive fromIbaka who finished with an impressive six blocked shots and 15 points while Harden had a scrappy five steals on the evening and six points.

Ramunas Siskauskas led the scoring for CSKA Moscow with 17 points, three steals and two rebounds.

Eric Maynor added 10 points off the bench and five assists, and Morris Peterson put up nine points in his 26 minutes on the court. Thabo Sefolosha did not play due to a finger injury.

Despite a second half push, Oklahoma City won 97 to 89.

The Thunder is back in action on the road against San Antonio Monday Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m.

The regular season will tipoff Wednesday Oct. 27 when when the Thunder host Chicago at 7:00 p.m. and the game will be televised on Fox Sports Oklahoma.