The Thunder were in charge Monday night. (Getty Images)

Each night, Eye on Basketball brings you what you need to know about the games of the NBA. From great performances to terrible clock management the report card evaluates and eviscerates the good, the bad, and the ugly from the night that was. Monday night's edition by Matt Moore and Ben Golliver.
Oklahoma City Thunder Quite simply, the best performance by any team of the 2012 playoffs. What more can you say? The Thunder brushed off a solid opening stretch from the Lakers before accelerating to sixth gear as only they can. OKC's offensive explosion was highlighted by a ridiculous 39-point third quarter, a barrage so humiliating and complete that it would up sending Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook to the bench for rest very early and led to some fourth quarter garbage time frustration-induced hijinks from the likes of Metta World Peace and Devin Ebanks. The Thunder were simply too much in every conceivable way: too fast, too strong, too focused, too relentless, too efficient. Westbrook finished with 27 and could have had 45 if it was a real game; Durant finished with 25 and could have had 40. -- BG
Philadelphia 76ers It wasn't pretty, but the Sixers really played better down the stretch. Not only did they get better performances from their offense, like Evan Turner and Jrue Holiday, but they played outstanding defense. On a late possession, the Sixers managed to contain the Celtics' pick and pop with Kevin Garnett, the Pierce elbow jumper, and Ray Allen off multiple screens. It was a brilliant possession and flustered the Celtics. They could have slid backwards into an 0-2 hole. Instead they go home with a chance to hold serve and walk out up 3-1. The Sixers made a statement Monday night. They're not going down without a fight. They're here to win. -- MM
Boston Celtics You can only screw around with a team so long. The Celtics have toyed around with the Sixers and in Game 1, got the comeback it wanted. It set itself up for the same in Game 2, but instead, the Sixers didn't play their part in collapsing. They gutted out a win and instead the Celtics leave Boston tied going into Philadelphia. The Celtics could have put their foot to the throat. Instead they let Philly off the mat. This is a series. -- MM
Los Angeles Lakers Turning from a Game 7 at home to a Game 1 on the road in a few days is no easy task. But there's no possible excuse in the world for what happened to the Lakers in OKC. They were picked apart on the defensive end, lacking the foot speed to stay with guards, the team awareness to provide the necessary help and the effort level to rotate and close out properly as possessions advanced. Offensively, the bench once again provided absolutely nothing, leaving the uninspired-once-again combination of Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol to flounder by their lonesome. Kobe Bryant managed 20 points on 18 shots but it couldn't have mattered less. Ramon Sessions and Steve Blake were completely invisible. The only good news: they can't play worse in Game 2. -- BG