The Pistons started strong on the road, taking an early 12-4 lead. Greg Monroe looked too powerful in the post, and Josh Smith was getting it going as well. Oklahoma City relied heavily on jump shots without Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook. Detroit looked unstoppable when attacking the hoop, however, a flurry of jumpers forced a pair of Stan Van Gundy timeouts. OKC got within 20-19, then closed the quarter with a 30-21 lead. Limp dick Durant was seen “raising the roof” on one of the Thunder’s deep tries.

Sebastian Telfair subbed in on Oklahoma’s side to start the second quarter, effectively stopping his own team’s scoring. “Moose” Monroe notched an “AND1,” and Jonas Jerebko stuck a J for five unanswered out of the gate. Then, Kyle Singler’s triple tied the game at 33. It marked just six long distance attempts from Detroit and 12 for our opponent. As the half winded down, even Oklamoha City’s center Serge Ibaka started shooting, making a three for his Evil Empire of a Bench (including my former Wolverine Mitch McGary – ouch). The Thunder talked a lot of shit at halftime, feeling good up six.

The Pistons came out aggressive defensively in the second half. Monroe began the scoring with a dunk, and Brandon Jennings quickly tied the game on back-to-back 3’s at 50. The game started to get personal between Jennings and OKC’s bench. Smith and BJ each drained a three in front of the Thunder’s sideline. Down three with under five minutes in the third quarter, Jennings continued making plays, drawing contact by driving to the lane and poking a loose ball to our big men on D. The latter resulted in an Andre Drummond AND1, taking the lead back. Jennings promptly stole the ball and scored his own AND1, clearly feeling himself at this point. He missed a cocky corner 3, but regained himself to steal the ball again on the Thunder’s final possession to take a 67-66 lead.

Detroit came out banging in the fourth quarter. “Moose” pounded the post. Jerebko drained a three. OKC took a timeout down 74-66 and turning it over nervously. It was a role reversal to what Pistons fans have seen this season, for it was the Thunder that managed only two points in the first half of that final quarter. Admittedly, the rest of the game was a defensive battle. Drummond stayed in there this time, making solid plays on D. As the clock winded down, OKC’s Marrow hit a corner three for a one point lead, then started hitting himself in the head, hard, yelling “THIS IS OUR HO– USE.” It was comical. Monroe tied it up on the next possession. In the final minutes, Jennings and Ray Jackson of the Thunder traded buckets then misses to send us into overtime. Those two became the marquee match-up, with Jennings forcing a tough shot and a miss for Jackson on the final play of regulation. The Pistons had their chance, too, but their center hit KCP in the balls, then fouled Singler – both to no call.

Setting the stage for overtime, we hadn’t beat them one time since 2008… game tied at 82 all. The Pistons scored on their first possession, as Smith put back his own miss. Morrow promptly spazzed on the Thunder’s next play, trying to copy Smith and turning it over. Halfway through the five minutes, Jennings hit a big three with the game tied. Timeout. After a Pistons stop, Jennings held the ball at the top of the key. He faked the three and drove all the way for the lay-up. With 1:29 to play, Jennings faked the drive for the step-back three and nailed it. He silenced the Oklahoma City crowd with a 92-84 lead. He came out of their timeout not letting up one bit, stealing the ball for another Pistons hoop. Finally, he dribbled down the clock before one more three barely rimmed out, which we put back for the bucket. Their fans exited the arena after the amazing display. Detroit won 96-89, going on a 14-2 run to dominate overtime. After scoring only four in the first half, Jennings poured in 25 the rest of the way. I think we found our leader.