Remembering Carmelo Anthony's 3 best games for the Oklahoma City Thunder
During the summer of 2017, Carmelo Anthony had been expected to join the Houston Rockets. The Western Conference high-flyers were looking to add a third star alongside James Harden and the newly acquired Chris Paul, and for months, reports stated that Melo's arrival was imminent.
However, with the 17/18 season quickly approaching, the Thunder surprised the basketball world by announcing a deal that would take the 10-time All-Star to Oklahoma City. The Thunder's new starting trio of Paul George, Russell Westbrook, and Anthony was quickly dubbed the 'OK3', and the team was widely expected to be among the biggest threats to the Golden State Warriors' continued dominance.
Evidently, the OK3 era did not go as planned, as the team struggled for cohesion all season long, and the Thunder eventually suffered a disappointing First Round playoff exit to the Utah Jazz. Following the season, Melo soon exited the team in a cost-cutting move, bringing an end to the 'OK3' experiment after less than a year. Anthony's performances were widely criticized throughout the season, although here, we will cast an eye over his best in a Thunder uniform.
#3 October 25th vs. Indiana Pacers
The Thunder's early season clash against the Pacers was just Melo's fifth appearance for the team, although it was ultimately one of his standout performances from his brief stay in Oklahoma City. Melo finished with a rare double-double, recording 28 points and 10 rebounds, and his performance alongside a Russell Westbrook triple-double was enough to secure the OKC a hard fought 114-96 win.
During his 33 minutes on the court, Melo shot over 50% from the field, while also hitting 3 of his 7 three-point attempts. On the defensive end, he also recorded a season-high 3 blocks, while all his rebounds came on the Thunder's glass, amounting to his best defensive performance in a Thunder uniform.