Oklahoma City Thunder begin NBA preseason with win over Fenerbahce Ulker

The Oklahoma City Thunder kick-started the 2013 NBA preseason with a convincing win over Euroleague squad Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul, 95-82, Saturday at the Ulker Sports Arena in Istanbul, as part of the 2013 NBA Global Games.

Kevin Durant finished with 24 points, eight rebounds, and three assists, despite playing just 28 minutes, none in the fourth quarter. Serge Ibaka added 15 markers, six rebounds and four swats, but the Thunder, who were already without point guard Russell Westbrook, who is rehabbing from a second knee surgery, saw starting center Kendrik Perkins dislocate a finger while trying to corral a rebound early in the game.

Perkins finished with one point, six rebounds and three assists.

Fenerbahce actually led after the first canto, 28-20, but it was all Thunder after that, as they held their foes to just 14 markers in the second period, en route to a 48-42 advantage at the break.

In the third, Croatian Bojan Bogdanovic, who was nearly brought over to the NBA's Brooklyn Nets during the past summer, scored five straight to bring his side to within two points of the Thunder, 63-61, 5:04 left. However, OKC countered with six straight of their own, to rebuild a comfortable advantage over the home side.



With Durant being substituted out at the 3:26 mark of the third, the Thunder went nearly three minutes without a make early in the fourth. Serge Ibaka however took charge, scoring six of his side's next eight, to establish an 85-70 Thunder lead, 6:47 left. OKC then closed out with their second and third-string players, as the reserves got some valuable playing time late.

Bogdanovic led Fenerbahce with 19 points, all of his field goal makes (4) coming from downtown. Bo McCalebb added 13 markers, three assists and four steals.

The Thunder's top draft pick Steven Adams produced seven points and six rebounds, but accumulated five fouls and three turnovers in his 15-minute stint. Jeremy Lamb, expected to take the minutes of Kevin Martin, who exited during free agency, managed nine markers, along with five rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks.

Oklahoma City ruled the glass, 52-27, as their foes leaned heavily on three-point shots, going 10-of-28 from downtown. The Thunder meanwhile were just 2-of-14 from long-range. They did however exhibit better ball movement, with a 22-13 advantage in assists. - AMD, GMA News