Thunder journal: How Steven Adams affects OKC's paint touches

Two spin moves was all Thunder center Steven Adams needed to tear himself away from the Grizzlies’ two big men and sink a turnaround hook shot.

At the beginning of the second half, it was just the Thunder’s fifth basket in the paint.

If there was going to be a night when Adams could take an extended break without the Thunder feeling the effects, it should have been Thursday. Memphis had traded away Marc Gasol (and three other players) at the trade deadline, so it started center Ivan Rabb for just the second time this season. But OKC got a taste of life without Adams for much of the first half, and it didn’t go well.

Adams picked up three fouls within the first six minutes of the game and sat…