Warriors-Thunder Preview

By MATT BECKER
Posted Feb 16 2012 1:48PM

Despite entering Friday night having played the fewest home games in the league, the Oklahoma City Thunder are leading the Western Conference and sitting comfortably atop the Northwest Division.

The Thunder appear to have a good chance to pad their lead when they open a lengthy home stretch against the Golden State Warriors, one of their favorite visitors to Oklahoma City.

The Thunder are 10-1 at Chesapeake Energy Arena but have only played there twice in the last three weeks.

They've actually had as many games at Golden State's Oracle Arena in that same span. They beat the Warriors 120-109 on Jan. 27, and Kevin Durant hit the go-ahead basket with 14.2 seconds remaining to help Oklahoma City withstand a 48-point performance from Monta Ellis in a 119-116 victory Feb. 7.

While the Thunder (22-7) have spent a lot of time on the road lately, they're about to re-acquaint themselves with the home fans, with 10 of their next 13 games in Oklahoma City.

They open a five-game homestand against a Warriors team they've beaten five straight times in Oklahoma City since losing the first meeting there Dec. 8, 2008. That matches the Thunder's longest active winning streak over an opponent in Oklahoma City.

Not surprisingly, Durant has been instrumental to that success.

The two-time defending NBA scoring champion is averaging 34.3 points in six games against the Warriors in Oklahoma City. His career scoring average of 31.4 against Golden State (11-15) is tied for his best against any opponent.

He had 37 points and 14 rebounds in the first meeting this season, then had 33 points, 10 boards and seven assists in the rematch two weeks later.

Although Durant's team owns a 5 1/2-game lead atop the Northwest - the largest of any West division leader - coach Scott Brooks has one big concern.

Oklahoma City is averaging a league-worst 17.1 turnovers, and its inability to protect the ball proved detrimental Wednesday against Houston. The Thunder turned the ball over 22 times, leading to 26 points for the Rockets in a 96-95 loss.

"The thing all season long that we're trying to correct, and we must get better, is turnovers," Brooks said. "We're in every game and we give up the ball too many times."

Despite their sloppiness, the Thunder still had a chance to win, but Durant missed three shots in the last 16 seconds. He finished with 33 points, eight rebounds and four turnovers.

Point guard Russell Westbrook had 26 points but turned the ball over six times. The All-Star reserve is averaging a league-worst 4.4 turnovers, including 69 in his last 12 games compared to 64 assists.

In this season's two games against the Warriors, Westbrook has combined for 59 points with 18 assists and 16 turnovers.

Golden State will enter Friday's matchup having played a league-low nine road games (3-6) but plays eight of its next nine away from Oakland.

The Warriors are hoping to have Ellis back at full strength after he sat out the fourth quarter of Wednesday's 93-91 loss to Portland because of an illness. Ellis, who averages a team-best 22.0 points, scored 10 on 3-of-9 shooting as Golden State's season-high three-game winning streak was snapped.

"A tough loss, but we move forward," coach Mark Jackson said.

David Lee picked up the scoring slack Wednesday, matching a season high with 29 points. He recorded his second career triple-double against the Thunder earlier this month, finishing with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

Harden, Durant lead Thunder past Warriors 110-87

Posted Feb 18 2012 1:18AM

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) As the injuries pile up, the Oklahoma City Thunder have stayed ahead of any reckoning.

That could change after Russell Westbrook left Friday night's 110-87 win over Golden State with what the team said was a sprained right ankle.

"We'll just see how he feels tomorrow," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said.

James Harden scored 25 points, Kevin Durant added 23 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, and the Oklahoma City Thunder completed a season sweep of the Golden State Warriors.

But the All-Star point guard left the game with 1:13 left in the third quarter with what the team said was a sprained right ankle. He didn't return.

But the Thunder improved to 23-7, the best record in the Western Conference, with their third win over the Warriors in 22 days.

Westbrook, who scored 18 points, was walking without a limp in the locker room afterward.

"It's part of the game. Our organization, we don't make excuses," Scott said. "You play through it. You can't do anything about it. We have a team full of guys who are capable of playing good minutes, solid minutes and hard minutes and they did."

The Thunder were without center Kendrick Perkins (right knee contusion) and guard Thabo Sefolosha (right foot pain). Earlier this season, they lost backup point guard Eric Maynor to a season-ending knee injury.

David Lee led Golden State with 23 points. Monta Ellis, who scored 48 points the last time the teams played, had 11 in this one. Ellis went down moments after Westbrook, with 17.1 seconds left in the third quarter. The Warriors said Ellis had a hyperextended right knee, but could have returned if the game hadn't been so lopsided.

Oklahoma City, which shot 52.7 percent from the field, improved to 6-1 in games played after a loss. The Thunder had lost 96-95 at Houston on Wednesday.

A 16-2 first-quarter run gave the Warriors a 24-17 lead and Golden State was up 39-36 with 5:28 left in the first half when the Thunder scored 10 straight points.

"We played hard and played together and we were able to get some transition baskets and some easy plays in our offense and cruised on from there," Durant said.

Oklahoma City had three consecutive dunks during the run - first a one-hander by Durant, followed by an alley-oop from Durant to Harden and capped by a steal and one-handed jam by Westbrook that gave the Thunder a 46-39 lead. Oklahoma City stretched that margin to 58-48 by halftime.

"Second straight game, the second quarter hurt us," Golden State coach Mark Jackson said. "Portland had a big second quarter and tonight we give up 38 points in the second quarter. We got some good looks (and it was) the first time in a long time we've struggled to make shots.

"Other than the second quarter, I thought we did a good job."

Durant and Serge Ibaka opened up the second half with baskets for the Thunder and Golden State never cut the margin below double digits. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Royal Ivey and Durant fueled an 8-0 run to end the third quarter and put Oklahoma City up 84-65.

During that run, Westbrook steamed down the court after a steal before pulling up in the lane with 1:13 left in the quarter and hobbling off the court. Ellis' injury occurred right in front of the Warriors' bench.

Dorell Wright, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson each scored 11 points for Golden State, playing the first game in a stretch during which the Warriors will play eight of nine games on the road. Wright added 11 rebounds. The Warriors shot 34.8 percent from the field (31 of 89).

"It's a make-or-miss league and we just missed some shots," Jackson said.

The Thunder went 10 of 24 from 3-point range, led by Durant (3 of 3), Harden (4 of 7) and Ivey (3 of 7).

"If guys go down then guys have to step up," Ivey said. "Today I got the opportunity and I just tried to make the best of it. Being around these guys will give you a lot of confidence. We've been playing well this year and you don't want to let your teammates down. You want to add to their success."

Notes: Harden's 25 points were one off his career high. ... Before the game, Durant confirmed he's splitting from his longtime agent, Aaron Goodwin. Durant said he appreciates what Goodwin has done for him "but it was time for me to move on." Durant signed with Goodwin's Seattle-based Goodwin Sports Management when he entered the NBA draft in 2007 after his freshman season at Texas. Goodwin helped negotiate Durant's five-year, $86 million contract that Durant signed in July 2010. ... Former Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon, a two-time Biletnikoff Award winner, attended the game.

Notebook: Thunder 110, Warriors 87

Posted Friday February 17, 2012 11:38PM

By Randy Renner, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: The Oklahoma City Thunder used a stifling defense and a big shot offense to blow past the Golden State Warriors 110-87 inside Chesapeake Energy Arena.

OKC improves to a Western Conference best 23-7 but the Thunder locker room is beginning to look like a Red Cross tent. Backup point guard Eric Maynor was lost for the season with a torn ACL a few weeks ago, guard Thabo Sefolosha missed his 11th consecutive start with a sore foot, center Kendrick Perkins is nursing a sore knee and didn't play and in the third quarter point guard Russell Westbrook limped off the court with a sprained right ankle.

Thunder sixth man James Harden led all scorers with 25 points (a season high) on 8-for-13 shooting. Kevin Durant added 23 and pulled down 10 rebounds. He also dished six assists. Westbrook scored 18 points before leaving the game.

Golden State forward David Lee led the Warriors with 23 points. Dorell Wright scored 11 and grabbed 11 rebounds. Monta Ellis and Steph Curry also scored 11. Neither had a good shooting night, both were just 4-for-13. Ellis had torched the Thunder for 48 points ten days ago in a 119-116 Warrior loss. Ellis also left the game early with a hyper-extended knee but he was seen running in the hallway near the Golden State locker room and did not appear to be seriously hurt.

QUOTABLE: "We have to clean up the turnovers but the defense really set the tone. Injuries are always a concern but we don't make excuses and I thought a lot of guys stepped up coming off the bench."
-- Thunder coach Scott Brooks

THE STAT: The Thunder bench outscored Golden State's 51-31 and won going away despite turning the ball over 19 times and giving up a whopping 22 offensive rebounds to Golden State. The Warriors actually got more offensive boards (22) than defensive (21). The OKC defense, holding Golden State to just 34.8 percent shooting was the difference again.

TURNING POINT: A big second quarter offensively for Oklahoma City (38 points, tying a season high for any quarter) and a stout effort on defense in the third (17 points for Golden State) turned a seven point Warrior lead into a 19 point Thunder advantage going into the fourth quarter. Most of the Golden State and Oklahoma City starters sat on the bench for the final frame.

QUOTABLE II: "Other than the second quarter I thought we did a good job. It's a make or miss league and we just missed some shots. It's the first time in a long time we've struggled to make shots."
-- Warriors coach Mark Jackson

HOT: Oklahoma City started the game 6-for-10 (60 percent)...At halftime the Thunder were shooting 56.1 (23-for-41)...Harden was 6-for-6 (15 points) in the second quarter...Durant was 3-for-4 in the second half. Seldom used Thunder guard Royal Ivey was 3-for-4 in the second half, all 3-pointers. He played 15 minutes after halftime, the most of any Thunder player.

NOT: Golden State started 2-for-9 (22.2)...At halftime the Warriors were shooting 38.8 (19-for-49)...Warriors guard Monta Ellis was 4-for-11 in the first half (0-for-3 on 3-pointers)...He was 0-for-2 in the second half...the Warriors' Brandon Rush was 0-for-5 in the second half.

INSIDE THE ARENA: A famous football family inside "The Peake" tonight. Oklahoma natives Buddy, Rex and Rob Ryan watched the game from a suite. The Ryans are being inducted into the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Hall of Fame this weekend. Buddy was defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears during their 1985 Super Bowl season. He went on to be head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. His son Rex is currently head coach of the New York Jets and his son Rob is defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys.

GOOD MOVE: Just before halftime, Durant dribbled out front then drove around Dorell Wright at the free throw and through a block attempt by Ekpe Udoh for a slam that put the Thunder up by three.

GOOD MOVE, TOO: Moments later, Golden State forward Dorell Wright took a hard screen from Naz'r Mohammed and fell to the floor. Mohammed then got a pass from Westbrook and went up for a slam but Wright leaped up and blocked Mohammed's shot.

BAD MOVE: In the third quarter, Thunder forward Serge Ibaka went for a rebound but Dorell Wright took it away. Ibaka then started backing up toward the paint, leaving Wright all alone in the corner. He fired up a wide-open three and nailed.

NOTABLE: The Thunder are now 11-1 at home this season and 4-0 on Friday nights. OKC has won eight games in a row at Chesapeake Energy Arena. That's the franchise's best mark since winning nine straight in the 2004-05 season...Oklahoma City has four more home games and none on the road leading up to the All-Star break...The Warriors were held under 90 points for the first time since January 7th. Golden State is now 3-7 on the road and the Warriors play seven of their next eight away from home.

UP NEXT: For the Warriors, Saturday @ Memphis, Monday vs. L.A. Clippers, Wednesday @ Phoenix. For the Thunder, Sunday vs. Denver, Monday vs. New Orleans, Wednesday vs. Boston.

• Warriors: Brown
• Thunder: Maynor, Sefolosha

• Warriors: --
• Thunder: --

• Lead Changes: 4
• Times Tied: 3

• Arena: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK
• Officials: #22 Bill Spooner, #42 Eric Lewis, #73 Tre Maddox
• Attendance: 18203
• Duration: 2:12