Thunder-Wizards Preview

By MATT BEARDMORE
Posted Jan 17 2012 3:26PM

A seven-game winning streak has Oklahoma City atop the NBA. A matchup with the league-worst Washington Wizards should give the Thunder a very good chance to keep rolling.

Oklahoma City looks to extend its longest winning streak in two seasons Wednesday night in the nation's capital, where it goes for its sixth consecutive victory over the Wizards.

The Thunder (12-2) opened a three-game trip with a 97-88 victory over Boston on Monday. Kevin Durant scored 28 points and Russell Westbrook added 26 for Oklahoma City, which is on the franchise's longest win streak since a nine-game run Jan. 29-Feb. 21, 2010.

Another win would give the franchise its best start since the Seattle SuperSonics went 13-2 to open 2004-05. Oklahoma City also owns the best road mark in the league and has won four in a row away from home.

"We were so close to getting to the (NBA) finals last year - that's something we want to get back to," Durant said of the Thunder reaching the conference finals last season. "... We want to step it up a notch, and that's what we've been doing since training camp - everybody coming in focused and in shape. We're having a decent season."

Oklahoma City's defensive intensity has played a major role in that. The Thunder are giving up 92.1 points and 43.2 percent shooting during their streak.

That could spell trouble for the Wizards (1-12), who are averaging 86.2 points and 41.0 percent from the field. Washington made a season-best 48.8 percent of its shots Monday but dropped its fourth in a row, 114-106 to Houston.

"We're playing with a little bit better spark, but as I told the guys in there, it ain't getting any easier," said coach Flip Saunders, whose team plays Denver, Boston and Atlantic Division-leading Philadelphia after the Thunder leave town. "... We've got to buckle down and look at the good things we did and build off those things."

Probably the best news for the Wizards lately has been the improved play of John Wall. Shooting 37.8 percent from the field on the season, the second-year point guard went 13 of 22 and scored a career-high 38 points Monday.

"I know it's great to have those type of numbers, but it don't mean nothing if you don't have a win, so I just think I had a good game, but I didn't get the win," said Wall, who shot 32.4 percent and totaled 27 points in two losses to Oklahoma City last season.

The Wizards haven't beaten the Thunder since a 104-95 home win Dec. 27, 2008 - the first matchup between the teams after Oklahoma City relocated from Seattle.

Durant, who grew up in the Washington, D.C. area, is averaging 31.1 points in seven games against the Wizards - his highest mark against any team.

He had 40 points in a 124-117 double-overtime win over the Wizards on Jan. 28, then scored 32 in a 116-89 victory at Washington on March 14.

Westbrook is averaging 21.7 points during the win streak.

Oklahoma City is trying to open 7-1 on the road for the first time since the Sonics' 8-1 start in 1996-97.

Wall, Young help Wizards break Thunder streak

Posted Jan 18 2012 11:15PM

WASHINGTON (AP) Wizards coach Flip Saunders decided to put Andray Blatche back in the starting lineup, and the home crowd responded by booing the struggling forward. When Washington got off to a slow start, they booed more heartily.

However, they were cheering by the end of the night as the Wizards got just their second win of the season, beating Oklahoma City 105-102 Wednesday night and ending the Thunder's seven-game winning streak.

John Wall scored 25 points, Nick Young had 24 and Jordan Crawford added 18 for Washington, which had lost 12 of its first 13 games.

Blatche missed three games with a sprained right shoulder and came off the bench in the team's last game. He had 12 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and a lot of fun listening to the crowd.

"That was terrible," he said with a smile. "Oh man. We won. so if they want to do that and we win, I don't care."

Russell Westbrook scored 36 points and Kevin Durant had 33 for Oklahoma City, which lost for only the third time in 15 games. During one stretch bridging the second and third quarters, the duo accounted for 21 of the Thunder's 23 points. Both slowed down after resting at the start of the fourth, missing 11 of 17 from the field.

Durant savors playing in his native Washington. He entered the game averaging 31.1 points against the Wizards - his best against any team.

"It's not the end of the world. We lost to a hungrier team than us," Durant said. "It hurts, because we want to win every game, especially me, I want to win at home, but you've got to look past it."

Westbrook's total was a season high, but the Thunder got only eight points from their other three starters.

"It's tough, especially when we weren't mentally focused to start the game. They stuck around and stuck around and they kind of got a win," Westbrook said.

Wall also had eight assists, seven rebounds and made 13 of 14 from the line. He was sanguine about his team and their league-worst record.

"We know we're better than our record," Wall said. "You're still 2-12. You still got a lot to do."

Washington proved to be pesky while breaking a four-game losing streak. After trailing by nine with 2:31 to play in the third quarter, the Wizards used strong 3-point shooting to take an 88-85 lead with 6:43 remaining. Washington started 0 for 6 on 3s before making 7 of 10 - including four by Young - late in the third and early in the fourth.

The Thunder took an 84-81 lead with 8:09 to play, but then hit just one field goal in the next seven minutes.

Washington led 94-90 with 50.9 seconds left, but its lead could have been even greater as JaVale McGee missed four free throws in just over a minute and Young, who led the NBA in free throw percentage before the game, missed three - two in the final minute.

With the Wizards ahead 96-92, Durant was called for an offensive foul with 38.8 seconds remaining. He also missed a 3 with 1.9 seconds left that would have tied the score.

"I still got a wide-open look, I just happened to not make it," Durant said.

The Thunder took a 51-46 halftime lead when Durant stole the ball from Crawford, dished to Westbrook, who returned it with a lovely behind-the-back pass to Durant, who dunked it with a flourish. Moments later, he hit a fadeaway jumper and was fouled and converted the free throw.

As the Wizards took a brief lead, Westbrook kept Oklahoma City in the game with 10 second-quarter points.

NOTES: Washington outrebounded Oklahoma City 52-43. "We weren't going to be intimidated. We did get physical," coach Flip Saunders said. ... Thunder F Serge Ibaka and C Kendrick Perkins have each blocked at least one shot in every game - the only pair of teammates to do so. ... Ibaka has blocked one in the last 28 games - an NBA high. ... Wizards C Ronny Turiaf, who hasn't played since breaking his left hand on Jan. 1, was in New York to have sutures removed from the hand.

Notebook: Wizards 105, Thunder 102

By Rich Dubroff, for NBA.com
Posted Thursday January 19, 2012 12:02AM

THE FACTS: John Wall had 25 points, Nick Young added 24 and Jordan Crawford scored 18 to lead the Washington Wizards to just their second win of the season, 105-102 over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The win ended the Thunder's seven-game winning streak. Russell Westbrook had a season-high 36 points and Kevin Durant equaled his season high with 33. Oklahoma City is 13-3.

Washington, which is still just 2-12, took the lead on Young's 3-pointer with 7:24 to play. Durant missed a game-tying 3-pointer with 1.9 seconds left.

QUOTABLE: "We know we're better than our record. You're still 2-12. You still got a lot to do."
-- Wall on not getting too cocky about the Wizards' win

THE STAT: Westbrook and Durant were a combined 19-for-33 from the field through the first three quarters. In the fourth quarter, they were just 6-for-17.

TURNING POINT: When Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks rested Westbrook and Durant at the start of the fourth quarter, the Wizards began cutting into the Thunder lead, and overtook them just after the two returned.

QUOTABLE II: "It's not the end of the world. We lost to a hungrier team than us. It hurts because we want to win every game."
-- Durant on the rare Oklahoma City loss

HOT: Young was 0-for-5 from the field in the first half and 6-for-12 in the second half. He went 5-for-8 from 3-point range in the third and fourth quarters.

NOT: Durant was just 2-for-10 from the 3-point line. "I still got a wide open look. I just happened not to make it," Durant said of the potential game-tying shot. "It happens. They played harder than us."

GOOD MOVE: Washington coach Flip Saunders returned Andray Blatche to the starting lineup. He responded with 12 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.

BAD MOVE: Durant and Westbrook were unable to get another teammate involved in the second half. Their teammates combined for just 14 points in the second half.

NOTABLE: The Wizards outrebounded the Thunder 52-43. It was only the second time all season they had more rebounds than their opponent.

IN THE ARENA: Lots of fans booing Blatche. He was hooted during pregame introductions and when he badly missed his first shot, they booed louder. "That was terrible," Blatche joked. "Oh, man. We won, so if they want to do that and we win, I don't care."

NEXT: For the Thunder, Saturday @ New Jersey, Monday vs. Detroit, Wednesday vs. New Orleans. For the Wizards, Friday vs. Denver, Sunday vs. Boston, Monday @ Philadelphia

• Thunder: Maynor, Reid
• Wizards: N'Diaye, Turiaf

• Thunder: Perkins
• Wizards: --

• Lead Changes: 6
• Times Tied: 8

• Arena: Verizon Center, Washington, DC
• Officials: #33 Zach Zarba, #68 Marat Kogut, #65 Sean Wright
• Attendance: 15075
• Duration: 2:22