Kiwi big man Steven Adams' growth as a genuine NBA All-Star prospect was on full display during the Oklahoma City Thunder's rout of the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday (NZT).
The centre was matched up against one of the best one-two frontcourt punches in the league in Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin, but the 25-year-old kept the duo quiet, while producing one of his best offensive outings of the year.
Adams finished with 21 points to lead all scorers, while securing six boards in a 110-83 OKC win.
The victory over the previously in-form Pistons lifts the Thunder to 15-7 for the season which began with four straight defeats.
Adams and his OKC cohorts kept Drummond (13) and Griffin (20) quiet in one of their best defensive efforts under the four-year tenure of coach Billy Donovan.
The Pistons entered the game with six-straight wins, including a win over the champion Golden State Warriors on Saturday, but their 83 points represented their lowest score of the season.
Adams made his first seven field-goal attempts and was five-from-five at the line, forcing Detroit to bench Drummond early, after he ran into foul trouble against the Kiwi.
OKC's two star guards Russell Westbrook and Paul George finished with 18 and 17 points respectively.
The Thunder head to New York on Thursday to take on the Brooklyn Nets.
Newshub.
