More Amazing: Gary Neal or Kevin Durant?1

Last night was a wild night for basketball to say the least. Just when you think that all has been said and done, a player steps forth to prove your predictions inaccurate. The San Antonio Spurs were tap dancing on the line of elimination and game six was a must win. Even though they retained as much as a 16-point lead in the first half of the game, they slumped and Memphis held a three-point lead in the last moments. Game is over right?

Wrong. Manu Ginobili’s three-pointer, that was later ruled a two, gave the Spurs some home court hope that they could use their youth mixed with experience to fight back for a second win in the series. With a three-pointer necessary and only 2.2 seconds left to play, Neal stood on the outskirts of the three-point arc and put up a three-point basket to send the game into overtime. There was no fortune teller that could have prepared the audience, Memphis and San Antonio fans included, for Gary Neal’s resurgence as a perimeter threat.

But, like a true gentleman, he did not celebrate the victory until the game had been won after five hard minutes of overtime play. The Grizzlies played their hearts out, but in the stretch, the Spurs were just too full of effort and maneuvering for them to contend in OT. But, what Kevin Durant’s leadership better than Neal’s clutch field goal?

Kevin Durant heated up in the first quarter, scoring 13 points. It seemed like he was going to have one of his enormously offensive contributions in this game to close out the series against Denver, until his hot hand grew cold in both the second and third quarters.

Russell Westbrook’s trigger happy stroke did not take center stage last night, but he only scored 14 points on 3-of-15 shooting. With Serge Ibaka’s monstrous efforts on the defensive end with nine blocks, Durant has one thing on his mind: ending the series, to conjure up a little resting time for he and his teammates as the second round closing in on them.

Everyone could see the fire growing in his eyes as he pulled up quick jump shots and blocked a three-point attempt on the second to last possession by the Denver Nuggets. The scowl on his face and the yells he let out let Oklahoma City fans and his teammates know that he was ready to take his place on the throne as the closer for the Thunder. He has an amazing cast surrounding him, but ultimately the results rest on his shoulders.

So, which was more impressive? Gary Neal’s Clutch 3-Pointer or Kevin Durant’s 41 Points to Lead OKC to the 2^nd round of the Western Conference Playoffs?

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