Rockets-Thunder Preview

By ALAN FERGUSON
Posted Jan 05 2012 2:25PM

The Oklahoma City Thunder have gotten a couple of much-needed days off following one of the most hectic opening schedules in the league. They won't get any more rest this weekend.

They'll play three games in three days beginning with a home-and-home series against the Houston Rockets that starts Friday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Oklahoma City was one of two teams along with the Los Angeles Lakers to play seven games in the first 10 days of the season, and the Thunder (5-2) appeared to show signs of fatigue toward the end of that stretch.

They dropped back-to-back games following their first 5-0 start since winning six in a row to open the 1998-99 season when they were the Seattle SuperSonics.

Oklahoma City averaged 90.0 points and shot 41.9 percent over its two defeats after averaging 102.0 points on 48.0 percent shooting during the unbeaten start. The Thunder are 10 for 39 (25.6 percent) from 3-point range in two games this month after leading the Western Conference in December at 41.7 percent.

They haven't played since Tuesday, when Kevin Durant was 1 of 7 on 3-point tries and missed 18 of 26 shots overall in a 103-93 loss to Portland. While Durant had 19 points for his second-lowest total of the season, James Harden scored a team-best 23 starting for an ill Thabo Sefolosha.

"We definitely miss (Sefolosha), but there are no excuses," coach Scott Brooks said. "We have enough in our locker room to get the job done. ... We just have to play better. We understand that sometimes it takes a tough loss."

The two-day break could lead to an improved performance Friday, as could a matchup with a Rockets team which is winless in four road games. Oklahoma City has won four of five over Houston (2-4), including three straight at home by double digits.

The teams meet again Saturday night at the Toyota Center before the Thunder host San Antonio on Sunday.

"Three in a row is going to be tough, but it's something we've got to fight through," Durant said. "The two days off before is going to help."

Durant reached 30 points in each of the first four games but hasn't done so in the last three, averaging 19.3. He's scored at least 30 in the last two matchups with the Rockets.

"I'm a scorer, so I can't get down on one game," the two-time scoring champion said. "I can't let it snowball to the next."

Houston, meanwhile, is trying to salvage the end of a three-game trip that included its most lopsided defeat of the season, 117-89 to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.

The Rockets gave up 41 points in the first quarter - the most allowed by any team in one period this season - and scored 14 in the fourth, their fewest in one period.

"We made mistakes offensively and defensively," said guard Kyle Lowry, who scored a team-high 17 points. "It's just something we've got to figure out. We can't have nights like this. It was a terrible day for us."

Lowry was one of six players in double figures during Houston's lone win over Oklahoma City last season, 99-98 on Nov. 28, 2010. Kevin Martin had a team-best 23 points and has averaged 23.3 over his last 15 matchups with the Thunder.

Martin has averaged 12.8 points in Houston's four road losses, compared to 26.0 in its two home wins.

Thunder beat Rockets 109-94 to open busy stretch

By JEFF LATZKE
Posted Jan 07 2012 12:58AM

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder got exactly the start they needed for the most grueling part of their schedule.

Durant scored 26 points, top reserve James Harden added 23 and Oklahoma City eased into its only stretch of three games on consecutive nights by beating the Houston Rockets 109-94 on Friday.

The Thunder bounced back after they followed their 5-0 start with two straight losses and were able to rest all of their starters throughout the fourth quarter.

"I think it's huge. I don't know how we're going to play for three games but to start off like this, first of all with the confidence, it helps a lot," Thabo Sefolosha said. "And it's good that we got some of the main guys to get some rest."

Durant played the most at just under 28 minutes, and fellow All-Star Russell Westbrook logged about 25. Oklahoma City plays three in a row and five games in six nights.

"It was important to us since we've got these back-to-back-to-back, then a day off, then another back-to-back," Durant said.

Kevin Martin and Terrence Williams scored 13 points apiece to lead the Rockets, who fell to 0-5 on the road this season but get a rematch Saturday night on their home floor. They're 2-0 in Houston so far.

"They were just aggressive. They were way more aggressive than we were tonight, right from the start," new coach Kevin McHale said.

"Right now, we're not playing very well. We're digging ourselves a bit of a hole but we're going to have to dig our way out. The only people that are going to dig themselves out are the players, and I told them that."

Houston played without starting point guard Kyle Lowry because of a right foot injury. It was also the first game since Lowry was charged with misdemeanor battery after a female referee accused him of throwing a basketball at her and threatening her during a game at a Las Vegas training gym during the lockout.

McHale said he had "no idea" if Lowry would play Saturday night.

Goran Dragic replaced him in the starting lineup and had 10 points and tied his career high with 11 assists.

Oklahoma City had been limited to only 40 second-half points in each of its losses but this time put the throttle down for 51 and put away the Rockets.

Durant and Westbrook combined to score the Thunder's first 10 points of the second half, and Kendrick Perkins scored underneath to finish a 12-4 opening run and provide a 70-45 lead just over 5 minutes beyond halftime.

Durant followed a spinning basket with a steal for a fast-break layup minutes later for a 76-49 advantage that was Oklahoma City's largest of the night.

The Rockets were able to get close enough to convince Thunder coach Scott Brooks to burn a timeout and chat with his reserves, but never could force the starters back in to action and drain them for the rematch. McHale didn't use his starters much in the fourth either, except for center Jordan Hill and Dragic - who is usually a backup.

Patrick Patterson hit a jumper, Dragic made a 3-pointer and Chandler Parsons had a right-handed slam on a fast break to get Houston back within 91-75 with 7:53 left in the game. The Rockets got within 15 before Harden scored on back-to-back drives - with one of them leading to a three-point play - to convince Brooks to send in rookie Reggie Jackson instead of his starters.

"It was key that our bench came in and they built on the lead and they kept us on the sideline," Perkins said.

Westbrook added 15 points and Serge Ibaka had 11 points and nine rebounds for Oklahoma City, which only trailed after Luis Scola's basket to open the game.

The Thunder then zoomed ahead by scoring nine fast-break points on their way to an early 16-8 lead. They had 11 of their 17 fast-break points in the first quarter.

"It all started from our defense. I think we started off with a great mindset on defense of contesting shots, making those guys shoot jump shots and rebounding. I think we did a decent job at that and got some easy baskets," Durant said.

"We also got some deflections and steals and stuff like that to get us going."

Harden scored seven straight points spanning the first-quarter break to bump the lead to 15, and the Oklahoma City reserves kept piling it on.

The Thunder backups outscored Houston 16-5 to start the second quarter, pushing ahead 46-25 after Nick Collison's jumper from the left side with 7:28 to go before halftime.

Martin led the Rockets back with two consecutive steals that led to four free throws, getting the deficit down to 14. Houston never got that close again after Ibaka beat the halftime buzzer with his second career 3-pointer to make it 58-41.

"So far, it's not working. It's early in the season but we've got a lot of work to do," Scola said. "We just need to regroup and go back to work."

NOTES: The only other 3-pointer of Ibaka's three-year career also came against Houston, on Nov. 29, 2009. ... The Rockets had gone two straight games without a block for the first time since Dec. 25-27, 1997. Hill ensured it wouldn't be three straight by swatting Thabo Sefolosha's shot in the first four minutes of the game. ... Brooks was a part of Houston's NBA championship team in 1994.

Notebook: Thunder 109, Rockets 94

By Randy Renner, for NBA.com
Posted Saturday January 7, 2012 1:11AM

THE FACTS: The road woes continue for the Houston Rockets as the Oklahoma City Thunder shot 52.5 percent and cruised to a 109-94 win inside Chesapeake Energy Arena. Houston is now 0-5 on the road this season and 2-5 overall. The Thunder snaps a two-game losing streak while improving to 6-2 on the season.

Oklahoma City Head Coach Scott Brooks kept his starters on the bench the entire fourth quarter, providing them some rest as OKC embarks on its only stretch of back-to-back-to-back games. The Thunder and Rockets play again tomorrow night in Houston and then Oklahoma City hosts San Antonio on Sunday.

Thunder forward Kevin Durant led all scorers with 26 points on 10-for-16 shooting, sixth man James Harden added 23 on 8-for-11. Point guard Russell Westbrook dropped in 15. The Rockets had five players in double figures led by Kevin Martin and Terrance Williams with 13 apiece. Goran Dragic, starting in place of an injured Kyle Lowry at point guard finished with 10 points and 11 assists.

QUOTABLE: "Our defense was really good, especially in the first half (when the Rockets shot 41%) and Kevin (Durant) had one of his best overall games. He can fill up the stat sheet every night and this was a good all-around game for him."
--Thunder Head Coach Scott Brooks

THE STAT: The Thunder scored 22 points in the paint against Houston in just the first quarter on 11-for-16 shooting. The Thunder finished with 54 paint points. The Rockets gave up 60 points in the paint Wednesday night against the Clippers and have struggled with their defense down low on the road this season.

QUOTABLE II: "They collapsed our paint again and then Harden came in and just drove at will. They were way more aggressive than we were. We're just not very good right now."
--Rockets Head Coach Kevin McHale

TURNING POINT: The Thunder led for all but a minute and a half during this game, they led by 21 halfway through the second quarter and by as many as 27. The Rockets just could never put together enough of a run to get back into the game.

HOT: Houston has struggled defensively in road games and in the first quarter OKC shot 63.2 percent. ...For the half the Thunder shot 57.9 percent(22-for-38). ...Thunder forward Kevin Durant was 5-for-8 in the first half and KD was 5-for-8 in the third quarter...Nick Collison was 3-for-3 and James Harden was 4-for-5 at the half...He was also 4-for-5 in the fourth quarter. ...Houston's Terrance Williams was 4-for-5 and Luis Scola was 5-for-10 in the first 24 minutes. ...Houston's Patrick Patterson finished 5-for-8. ...Jeff Adrien was 3-for-4 in the fourth quarter.

NOT: In the first quarter the Rockets were just 9-for-25 (36 percent). ...In the first half Houston was just 1-for-6 on 3-pointers. ...Houston started the third quarter by missing seven of its first eight shots. ...Luis Scola was 0-for-4 in the second half...

GOOD MOVE: In the first quarter, Rockets forward Scola had heads turning with three spin moves down low as he went around both Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins for a layup.

GOOD MOVE TOO: In the second quarter Thunder forward Collison set a screen on Houston's Goran Dragic as Eric Maynor dribbled to his right, then Collison rolled into the lane to catch a pass from Maynor and score the layup.

GOOD MOVE III: In the third quarter Thunder forward Durant, working along the baseline, drove right through a double team being worked by the Rockets' Scola and Dragic. As they watched Durant continued to the basket for the score. Interior defense continues to be a problem for Houston.

NOTABLE: Rockets starting point guard Kyle Lowry did not play because of a bruised right foot. Rockets coach Kevin McHale said he wasn't sure whether Lowry would be able to go against the Thunder Saturday night in Houston...Most of the starters on both teams played fewer minutes than usual. Durant led OKC with just under 28 minutes.

QUOTABLE III: "Our minutes weren't that high but we know they'll come back tomorrow night on their home court. We're just focusing on this first game."
- Brooks on his team playing the first game of a back-to-back-to-back.

UP NEXT: For the Rockets, Saturday vs Thunder, Tuesday @ Charlotte, Wednesday @ San Antonio. For the Thunder, Saturday @ Houston, Sunday vs Spurs, Tuesday @ Memphis.

• Rockets: Lee, Morris
• Thunder: Ivey, Reid

• Rockets: --
• Thunder: --

• Lead Changes: 1
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK
• Officials: #40 Leon Wood, #23 Jason Phillips, #45 Brian Forte
• Attendance: 18203
• Duration: 2:02