Matt Pinto is in his 23rd season of NBA play-by-play and his fifth season as the Oklahoma City Thunder’s radio voice. For most of OKC’s 82 regular-season games and playoff contests, he works alone. During a Thunder broadcast (carried in the Tulsa area by the Tulsa Sports Animal 97.1 FM), you’ll notice that there’s virtually no dead air during a typical 2½-hour presentation.
As the Thunder routed Phoenix in Oklahoma City last Friday, the Tulsa World recorded and transcribed Pinto’s call during the third quarter. There were 4,259 words. Over the course of an entire game, Pinto’s play-by-play description amounts to more than 17,000 words. Over the course of an 82-game season – about 1.4 million words.
“It’s a pretty constant flow,” Pinto said by telephone from Salt Lake City, where the Thunder was beaten on Tuesday by Utah. “That’s the thing about radio – you don’t get much of a chance to sit back and story-tell. The action keeps chugging, and especially when the Thunder really has it going.”
In 23 NBA seasons, Pinto has missed “no more than five (games),” he said, “and that includes the two I missed when my son was born in 2008.”
Pinto’s next assignment – Thursday’s Miami-Thunder showdown, with the Heat visiting Oklahoma City’s Chesapeake Energy Arena for the first time since Game 2 of the 2012 NBA Finals.
A Pinto feature piece will be published in the Thursday Tulsa World sports section.
-- Bill Haisten
The Pinto transcript from the third quarter of last week’s Suns-Thunder broadcast:
“Thunder basketball. As they surrendered tonight’s opening tip, they’ll begin with possession in the third quarter. Shooting at the basket to my right with Kendrick Perkins, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka and Thabo Sefolosha. The opening half feature two lead changes, eight ties. The Suns battled from 10 back at one juncture. They’re anchored in the middle by Marcin Gortat. He’s flanked by Luis Scola and P.J. Tucker on the front line. The backcourt duo is Jared Dudley and Goran Dragic.”
“Westbrook on the handle for the Thunder, looking to initiate. On the right wing, Durant. To the foul line to Ibaka, holding. Back to Durant out near midcourt. Ten to shoot. Bounce pass to Ibaka at the foul line. Corner left, Sefolosha. Three-for-three. Lets it fly. Comes up short. Offside rebound Perkins. Moves away from Gortat and finds Ibaka open. The right-side angle 15-foot jumper is not there, and Serge is not either tonight. One-of-five field goal shooting on the offensive end.”
“The Suns come back down five, 55-50. Dragic is out front to Jared Dudley, who is scoreless in the game. He has taken only one shot. High post right, Gortat. Crosscourt right to Scola. Elevates. Fires an 18-foot rainbow set shot. No good.”
“Westbrook, the loose ball. Three-on-one. High-steps down the lane and banks home a five-foot beauty, after scissoring free of Scola on the dribble drive. Westbrook becomes the third Thunder player in double figures with 11. He averages 22.6 – seventh-highest in the NBA.”
“OKC by seven. Thunder have trailed by no more than two. A near turnover at midcourt by Gortat, and now it is a turnover as he tried to grab a pass wide left of him by Jared Dudley – by trying to tightrope that midcourt line – but it became an over-and-back violation. The Suns’ ninth giveaway tonight. Lindsey Hunter can’t bear to look right now. He’s not particularly pleased with the lackadaisical nature with which his Suns have come out to begin the third quarter.”
“Thunder by seven. Blasting right, Westbrook. Stutter-steps, veers and pulls up in the lane. The 13-foot, off-balance try is no good. He back-rimmed it. Dudley’s got the miss for the Suns and outlets left to Dragic. Goran had 16 quickly in the opening quarter. None since. He settles in on the dribble between the circles. Angles left behind a Gortat pick. Crosscourt try to Dudley. Baseline right, Scola found as the open man. Can’t convert a 15-foot jumper. Scola is now 2-of-6 tonight. Kendrick Perkins latches onto his seventh rebound to go with nine points.”
“Durant, blasting left. Floats a seven-footer over Gortat, across his body. Tough shot. He’s unable to convert it. Gortat is able to rebound, outletting left to Dragic.”
“The ball swung corner right to Dudley. The three that’s perfect. He’s the best 3-point shooter that the Suns have among their lot at 39 percent efficiency. He’s now knocked down 72 treys this season. The Suns are 3-of-6 tonight and have pulled within four now.”
“Durant on the right wing. Operates with Perkins. Two-man game on the right side. Crosscourt corner left to Sefolosha. Sets his feet, squares his shoulders and rips the cords for three. Excellent crosscourt skip-pass find by Kevin Durant for his second assist. Sefolosha becomes the fourth Thunder scorer in double figures with 10. The 12th time he’s done that this season. He’s made his first three of the game.”
“Left side high, Dragic. Scola, pump-faking, barrels right away from Ibaka and right down the lane for the easy driving layup. He shed his initial defender and there was nobody home to challenge the shot inside. Thunder 60, Suns 55. A five-point margin is where it stood at halftime.”
“Westbrook tried to pry between two defenders and in doing so, a kicked-ball violation coming. It squirted free as he was able to sandwich between Dragic and Gortat. 9:17 left in the third. The Thunder 60, the Suns 55.”
“Right baseline. Westbrook double-pumps. Missed the layup over Dudley. Can’t convert the tip follow. He’s now 5-of-8. Gortat clears for the Suns.”
“To the foul line comes Dragic. To the trailing Dudley, blasting down the lane. He shovels the no-look dish to Scola, who blows the layup in traffic.”
“Durant grabs the miss. His fifth rebound tonight. Gallops to the middle. Ibaka, off the ball, is tripped up by P.J. Tucker. Tucker draws his first foul tonight. He’s been a lucky guy because he’s been throwing that considerable body around often. He’s 6-6, 224 – built like a brick wall.”
“Thunder will inbound off of the Suns’ first team foul in the quarter, leading 60-55. Kevin Durant to do the honors. Gets it into Westbrook. Russell out front. Surveys. Dragic gets in his face. Westbrook back of a Perkins pick. Feeds Kendrick, top of the key. Now, Perkins looking. Faces, fires, 17-foot clothesline jumper good! Kendrick Perkins perfect – 5-of-5 from the field, 11 points. And for Perk, it marks his sixth double-figure scoring outing this season. Thunder lead by seven.”
“Low right, Scola. He’s able to curl away from Ibaka, but it’s caught by trail official Trey Maddox as he hooked to get free. That’s a veteran move. Serge Ibaka got hooked around the throat area, and he’s hunched over, holding that area right now.”
“Kendrick Perkins showing aplomb in terms of just looking at the rim. If he’s unguarded and left to shoot, he’s doing it. He’s doing it really effectively of late. Last seven games, a 63 percent field goal shooter. Tonight, he’s yet to miss in five tries.”
“Westbrook, feeds the right baseline to Durant. Kevin, across the floor to Perkins. Bobbles the pass. Gets it back. Shuttles in the corner left to Sefolosha. Slicing in the lane. Lobs to the rim. Ibaka grabs it in traffic. Goes up. Gortat blocks his shot. Serge got it back. Can’t convert on the follow, but he’s fouled by Gortat this time. Marcin guilty of his second.”
“Thunder really looking to exert that extra gear that they’re able to deliver here at home frequently, against the young Suns. The lead is seven right now, with 8:16 left to play in the third quarter. Phoenix is above only Washington in terms of road victories this season. The Wizards, 3-21. The Suns, 5-21 away from home. They’ve only been able to grab eight wins this season against teams at or above .500, which the Thunder clearly are at 37-12.”
“Ibaka’s free throw is good. Serge, a quiet night at the office in every regard thus far with three points, two rebounds. He does have a total of three blocks. That makes it nine for him, the last couple of games. Ibaka had six rejections, 15 points, nine boards and four assists – a career high – in that rout of Golden State, 119-98 on Wednesday night. Ibaka bends his knees, eyes the rim, dips, shoots and swishes. The Thunder have nailed only 8-of-12 tonight at the line – 67 percent efficiency. They’re No. 1 in the league at 83 percent overall this season. The lead expands to nine. It was five at halftime.”
“Working the dribble, 30 feet, straight away, Tucker. Played by Durant. Finds Dudley open. His left-baseline rainbow – a 21-foot jumper in a vacant lot – is no good. He was too open. Perkins, the rebound. His eighth. He’s on the brink of a double-double now with 11 points and eight retrievals. 7:55 left in the third. Thunder up nine.”
“Durant splits a double. Corner right kicks to Sefolosha. He lofts a three for a double-digit cushion and drains it! Durant, another crosscourt find for his third assist. And Thabo, the Swiss Mister, is able to find a groove. He’s 3-of-5 from downtown, 5-of-9 on the night. He has 13 points. Two away from his season high.”
“The Thunder have their largest lead of this game, 67-55 with 7:42 left in the third quarter. Timeout Suns. That trey punctuates a 10-2 Thunder burst. This is Thunder basketball.”
* * * Commercial break. * * *
“Thunder lead by 12 as they have erupted here, outscoring the Suns 18-4 in fast-break points tonight. On the dribble weave, Dudley. Shuttles right to Scola. His rainbow 17-foot jumper short. Tipped his own miss, and it’s retrieved on the left sideline by Dragic, who is undercut trying to lob it to midcourt Dudley. Westbrook got there a tad late and he’s ticketed with his third personal.”
“Thunder have a total of five players in double figures now, paced by Durant with 16. On the season, when they’ve accomplished that feat, they’ve been virtually unbeatable – 16-1 their overall record when they have the balance that’s going on tonight on the offensive end. They’ve made 48 percent of their shots. The Suns 50. OKC 9-of-13 on threes. 16-1 when converting at least nine treys as well this season.”
“Scola, top of the key. A cold man, he hands to Dudley. Plowing right. Shuttles wide right to Dragic. Receives the feed anyway along the right sideline. Barrels left. Floats a runner in the lane. Errant from 13. Ibaka extends and latches onto his third rebound. On the glass, Thunder now within two. They’ve trailed in that column most of the evening. 6:55 left in the third. The Suns struggling to score.”
“Sefolosha holding, perimeter right. Crosscourt left to Durant. Sets his feet, squares his shoulders and missed that trey off the back of the rim. His first miss in five tries. Gortat is there with his fifth retrieval. Back come the Suns, midway through the third quarter, down a dozen.”
“Slithering, right baseline, Dragic. Curtailed by Sefolosha. Throws it away. Perkins has the steal. Long lead, Sefolosha. Maybe too long. Thabo tracks it down, though, deep in the left corner. Crossing over on Scola. Dances left. A little off-balance, he finds Westbrook out at midcourt to activate the offense. Russell, three assists, five boards, 11 points tonight. Westbrook, at the foul line to Ibaka. Pump-fakes. Now fires – 17-footer straight away. Perfect. He set himself before unleashing that attempt. He was all alone. Russell Westbrook has four assists now.”
“The lead expands to 14 and Lindsey Hunter is a bit incensed by what he’s seeing from his team. 69-55, Oklahoma City. The Suns falling back here to begin the third quarter as the Thunder has outscored them 14-5 in the frame.”
“Join us next Thursday – the Thunder on Valentine’s night, 7 o’clock. A very special occasion here. Some would call it a rematch of the NBA Finals. The Miami Heat make their only regular-season appearance here in this building.”
“Thunder on an extended 12-2 burst as the Suns have converted on only 2-of-8 shots in this third quarter. This is a team all season that has been prone to droughts. This is a team all season that has had to be in a rallying position most nights. Thirty-eight times now in 51 games, they have fallen back by double digits at some point. 18-4 in fast-break points, 9-4 in second-chance turnovers for the Thunder. They have forced 11 Suns turnovers for 20 points.”
“P.J. Tucker is not yet off the court. There are six men out there for Phoenix right now, as the ball is actually inbounded. Trey Maddox, the referee, gave it to a Sun player to inbound. Michael Beasley. And that is a technical foul. You can only play with five. Michael Beasley with a brain cramp. Didn’t allow Tucker to clear the sideline. Inbounded the basketball. Kevin Durant will look to take advantage of the gift. Durant’s got 16 points on the night. Eyes the rim. Dips, shoots and swishes the tech. So the Thunder run expands to 13-2 and the lead to 15 at 70-55.”
“Thunder hit the road for the next two – at Phoenix Sunday, 7 o’clock Central opening tip; and at Utah on Tuesday. Have not seen the Jazz in some time.”
“Beasley stays in, along with Scola, Shannon Brown, Dragic and Marcin Gortat for the Suns. An anomaly in this game – in 19 minutes, Marcin Gortat – who averages 12 points a game – has yet to shoot.”
“Left side, Brown. Sheds a steal attempt by Westbrook. Holds now. Closed now by Perkins, who smothers him. Gives it up wide right to Beasley. Perkins follows him out front. Four to shoot. Beasley slithers left. Lost the ball. Perkins poked it away. Ibaka the steal. Out in front to Westbrook. Winds up, cocks it behind his right ear and rocks it! A right-hand, crowd-pleasing, gravity-defying sledgehammer slam! A sensational sequence. Perkins dislodged the ball from the more quick offensive player Beasley, and it triggered the Thunder to their 19th and 20th fast-break points. Westbrook’s got 13. The Thunder lead swells to 17.”
“Brown, dances right side. Wedging between two defenders. Floats it on the run. Won’t get it to fall from six, and he’s fouled prior to continuation, anyway. Thunder’s second team foul tonight.”
“Serge Ibaka, airmailing the dish to Westbrook, who knows how to finish out in the open court. That was a sensational slam, and Ibaka’s got three assists again tonight. He was able to notch a career-high in assists two nights ago at four, and he’s got three in this one. Celebrating that Westbrook slam from deep in the backcourt.”
“They grant Brown continuation off of Serge Ibaka’s first foul tonight. Shannon will toe the line for two, accumulating five points along with five rebounds in the opening half. Thunder fans, snap a photo of your son, daughter or a family member playing basketball and upload it – as the free throw is no good – through Twitter or Instagram using hashtag #oklahoops for a chance to win great Thunder prizes. One winner will be chosen every week through February. It’s time for you to show us your future stars on the court, driveway or even playground tonight.”
“Gortat and Scola out. They’ve collaborated for a total of six points and six rebounds in the game. 3-of-9 combined shooting in 35 minutes. Brown missed them both. When it rains, it pours. Who says it stays dry all the time in the Valley of the Sun? It has been a torrential deluge of losses for Phoenix.”
“What a dish inside. Durant fed by Westbrook. A laser off of the right-hand dribble, and Kevin is fouled hard going up after slipping in the backdoor. Beasley with the personal, his second. 72-55. The Thunder lead is 17. They’ve outscored the Suns by 12 in the quarter. 5:29 showing, and Durant is back at the free-throw line where he’s 3-of-3 in the game. K.D. has got two double-doubles in his last three games, and may be headed to a third in four games tonight with six retrievals and 17 points. His first foul shot is up and in. He had the luxury, as did all the starters on Wednesday, of not playing the entire fourth quarter, yet he delivered 25 points, seven rebounds, four assists in 31 minutes. Filling the stat sheet as he has done all season. Durant gets them both. He leads a balanced score ledger with 19 for the Thunder tonight, and the lead is now 19 at 74-55.”
“Big third quarter for the home team as Goran Dragic looks to the right elbow to Markieff Morris, who’s fronted by Ibaka. The swing comes instead to Jermaine O’Neal, who’s back in. O’Neal, pushing off on Perkins. Ball swung wing right to Morris. Crosscourt corner left to Brown. One to shoot. Brown doesn’t realize it. Dribbles and now fires at the shot-clock buzzer. Leaves a 20-footer way off. The Suns falling asleep.”
“Rebound Ibaka. Up the middle to Durant. To the trailing Sefolosha. Right flank to Durant. To the baseline. Kicks left wing, Westbrook. Wide open. Wants three. Gets none. Left it short. Long rebound. Ibaka from the corner, wants three. Got it! Serge Ibaka says the second time will be the charm, baby! He’s got 11 3-pointers made this season, and he has scored nine tonight. The Thunder have drained 10-of-16 treys and lead by 22. Here we go again. 77-55 at home – a big-time advantage at Chesapeake Arena. Is there a better homecourt crowd in the league? I think not.”
“Markieff Morris. Five to shoot. Pump-fakes Ibaka. Comes to the wing. Leaves it for O’Neal with one on the shot clock. Fades and fires. Perkins blocks his 15-foot jumper. Shot-clock violation. The crowd electrified. The Thunder doing it with defense here in the third quarter. Digging in and forcing the Suns to the perimeter with frequency.”
“Phoenix had drained 54 percent of its shots through two quarters. The shooting percentage down to 47 now. The turnover total, 13. They are 2-of-10 with five turns in the frame.”
“Sefolosha, wing right to Ibaka. Sizing up O’Neal. Finds Westbrook. Dancing. Backdoor feed to Sefolosha. Beasley lying in the weeds. Grabs it. He feeds ahead of the pack to Brown, whose layup is blocked from behind by Sefolosha! Off of Brown, out of bounds. The Thunder have now come up with a total of nine blocks in the game, unofficially. Six men have accounted for the nine blocks. Serge Ibaka pacing that overall attack with three rejections. Sefolosha now has two.”
“The lead is 22. Westbrook on the handle. Wide right. 3:55 left in the quarter. Blasting left. Jump-passes low to Perkins. Nice job, shedding Beasley. Missed the dunk. Got it back. Rams it down with two hands. He’s the sixth Thunder player in double figures with 13 points. Timeout Suns. This is a full. Right now, Phoenix is seeking cover. There is none to be had inside of Chesapeake Arena. 3:45 left in the quarter. Oklahoma City leads it 79-55. The run is 19-0 as the Suns have been blistered here in OKC in the third. This is Thunder basketball.”
* * * Commercial break. * * *
“33-7 Thunder since falling back of the Suns 48-46 with 1:27 left in the second quarter. They’ve outrebounded Phoenix 12-6 in the third. Outscored them 24-5. Dominance galore in every regard. The Suns have gone more than six minutes without converting a field goal try.”
“Brown wide right. Handling for the Suns. Holding. Feeds low to O’Neal. Jermaine stripped from behind. Ambushed by Westbrook. Russell streaks the other way. Challenges Dragic. Lays it up on the run and banks home a five-foot beauty. The Suns are on the ropes, and right now they are defenseless against the Thunder’s continued attacks at both ends. Fourteen Phoenix turnovers have been converted into 24 Thunder points. There are 22 fast-break points for the Thunder tonight.”
“Wing right, Beasley. Arcs and hits a 21-foot jumper after squeezing behind a pick by Jermaine O’Neal. Beasley continues to be consistent source of offense for the Suns with 13. 81-57 Thunder. 2:55 showing in the third.”
“Westbrook wing right, with 15 points in his back pocket. Flips in the lane to Perkins. Leaning in. Hits a feathery, five-foot hook. That’s the fifth assist for Westbrook tonight, and Perk now has 15 points – a new season high. Also nine rebounds for the big man.”
“Beasley, left-side angle, lets fly a three that’s way short. Rebound is deflected out, though, by Morris. He reels it in and dumps it low right to O’Neal. Right to left across the paint. A fadeaway six-foot jumper. Not there. Perkins hit O’Neal on the right arm. O’Neal will be at the free-throw line to shoot two.”
“Jermaine No. 4 among active players in blocked shots entering this night, and he’s got a pair in this game. O’Neal has been a well-traveled player. Certainly, his better moments are in the rear-view mirror. He may be on the brink of calling it a career at the end of this season. There has been much speculation about that. O’Neal, one of the veteran stabilizing forces on an otherwise young Phoenix squad, readies for the first of two free throws. Jermaine has a total of eight points in this game. Make it nine as his awkward stroke, that kind of stops at midstream, is up and in. Nick Collison, Kevin Martin, Kevin Durant in for the Thunder. Russell Westbrook and Kendrick Perkins stay on, as well, as there are multiple substitutions being called for by Scott Brooks. O’Neal, averaging 10.5 a game the last two, has a total of nine in this one to go with four rebounds and two blocked shots. Readies for the second free throw in an 83-58 game. It’s on the way and good. 2:34 left to play in what has been a raucous Thunder third quarter. The advantage is 24 points right now.”
“Westbrook on the handle. Backing Dragic, mid-post right. Crosscourt corner left to Martin. Closed out by Brown. Shuttles at the foul line to Perkins. He feeds to Westbrook, mid-post, left side again. Eight to shoot. Russell to the foul line. Steps back on Dragic. Faces up on the bounce. Slices left. Reached in on by Dragic in a silly way, with five on the shot clock. Russell organizing his move about 21 feet from the basket, and Dragic now has his third personal foul. That’s a team foul the Suns had to give, though, as they’re at the foul limit of four. Next whistle against their defense has the Thunder at the free-throw line the remainder of the night.”
“OKC hitting 51 percent of its shots. The Suns 46 percent in a 24-point game. Low right, Westbrook. Doubled. In the lane to Perkins, leaning in with a jump-hook. Perfect from seven feet out. Right now, the Thunder have sized up what the Suns are trying to get done, making them pay. Carving up Phoenix’ defense. Westbrook has four assists in the quarter. Six on the night. Perkins building on a season high. It’s up to 17.”
“Morris off the left elbow with 1:50 left in the quarter. Westbrook nearly swiped a crosscourt pass right to Dragic. Goran got it. Dishes down the lane to Morris, who jump-stops and can’t convert a driving layup on Perkins, who held his ground. And Collison grabs the miss. Thunder plus-two in rebounding now. They were down six in that regard at halftime.”
“Westbrook, wing right. Isolated against Dragic. Slides to the middle. Tried a drop-step. Leaps and leans and goes glass, off-balance. Probably an ill-advised shot is not there. Beasley gets the rebound for the Suns. His sixth board tonight. Michael, the lefty out of Kansas State. One collegiate season saw him win Big 12 player of the year honors. He finds Dragic open for the right-wing three that’s up and in. Phoenix has made 4-of-8 treys – two of those off of the left hand of Dragic, who has 19 points. That’s his first make, though, since the first quarter. He had 16 of his 19 in that opening frame.”
“Timeout called by the Thunder. 85-62 the count. OKC up by 23 right now, with 1:16 left to play in the third. We’ll take time. This is Thunder basketball.”
* * * Commercial break. * * *
“The Thunder have nailed 10 threes in 16 tries. The 11th time they’ve done that. 10-0 previously. Working to make it 11-0. 85-62 when play resumes.”
“Off the ball, Kevin Durant is mugged pretty good by Michael Beasley. Grabbing on. Beasley is guilty of his third personal. Thunder have erupted here in the third quarter, outscoring the Suns 30-12. Expanding a five-point margin at halftime – and they closed the first half 9-2 – to a lead of 23 at the moment. Durant precedes the first free throw with that patented wiggle and nails it. K.D. the first 20-point scoring performer on either team. He’s at an even 20. Thunder have five in doubles, led by Durant with 20. Durant got them both. He’s got 21.”
“Westbrook, Perkins, Collison, Durant and Martin for the Thunder. Dragic, his club down 25, looks to Beasley who has it left flank. Isolated against Westbrook on a switch. Michael flashes baseline. Lofts a six-foot floater. It’s good. He can be a scoring machine when he’s engaged, and Beasley has played well tonight – 7-of-10 shooting for 15 points. One of two off the bench in doubles. Jermaine O’Neal the other with 10.”
“87-64 Thunder. Galloping left. Oh, the give-and-go feed from Perkins. Thunders down the wind-up, windmill slam! Once he goes airborne, it is dazzling. Perkins has three assists. Wing right, Beasley. Lofts a three that’s good. It tumbled around the cylinder and somehow fell through. Beasley 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. He’ll have at the Thunder again on Sunday in his house – the US Airways Center in Phoenix.”
“89-67 the count. Durant in a 1-4 set, isolated. Steps right on Beasley. Bounce pass baseline to Collison. He sends down a two-hand thumper! Durant threaded the needle with his fourth assist. The Thunder have 19 assists in the game now and lead 91-67. Taking apart the Suns.”
“Six seconds left in the quarter. Dragic doubled out front. Lobs left wing to Beasley. Left alone. Fires another three that’s good. Michael Beasley has got 21 and counting. A *breakdown by Oklahoma City pulls Phoenix within 21 at the end of three at 91-70. Oklahoma City extends a five-point halftime lead to 21 at the end of three. Kendrick Perkins has been mammoth in that push with a season-high 17 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and three blocks. He’s made 8-of-9 shots, and he has been probably the driving catalyst to what we’ve seen from Oklahoma City tonight in every regard. Thunder by 21 going into the fourth. This is Thunder basketball.”
