Thunder-Suns Preview

By JUSTIN EINHORN
Posted Apr 17 2012 3:06PM

As poorly as they have fared against the Oklahoma City Thunder lately, the Phoenix Suns would surely be thrilled to be playing them again next week.

That would likely suit Oklahoma City just fine as long as it's a No. 1 seed.

The Thunder are looking to recover from a miserable half of basketball - and easily their lowest-scoring game of the season - heading into Phoenix on Wednesday night for a possible playoff preview.

While Oklahoma City (44-17) has clinched the Northwest Division, its seeding in the Western Conference and first-round opponent next weekend are far from decided with five games remaining.

The Thunder are in a tight battle with San Antonio for the best record in the West, but the Spurs own the tiebreaker because they won the season series. If Oklahoma City does finish atop the conference, it could open the postseason against a Suns team that has moved into a tie with Houston for the eighth and final playoff spot.

While the Thunder have been at or near the top of the West all season, Phoenix (32-29) had the conference's third-worst record two months ago.

"People had us for dead beginning of the season, middle of the season, All-Star break," forward Jared Dudley said. "And we've worked our butts off, we've played through it, guys have learned their roles and I think we're ready to do it."

The Thunder haven't looked very playoff-ready of late, dropping five of nine. They blew a nine-point halftime lead Monday in a 92-77 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, getting held to 25 second-half points on 9-of-31 shooting (29.0 percent).

Russell Westbrook had nine points - his fewest since December - and shot 4 of 16 as Oklahoma City was held below 84 points for the first time since Jan. 1, 2011, at San Antonio.

"There's no time to panic right now," said Kevin Durant, who had 19 of his 24 points in the first half. "We have to win the next game in order to get our momentum back."

The Thunder have lost their last five games against teams with winning records but have won five in a row versus Phoenix, including two this season - both in Oklahoma. The Suns have surrendered an average of 114.2 points during that skid.

Phoenix's final five opponents all have winning records and four are among the top six teams in the West. The good news is four of the Suns' remaining games are at home, where they are 11-2 since the All-Star break.

"The sense of urgency has been here since the All-Star game," Steve Nash said after handing out 13 assists in Monday's 125-107 win over Portland. "I think we're playing that way every game, and have felt that through the last few weeks."

Nash, 14 assists shy of Oscar Robertson for fifth all-time, has been held to 10.2 points per game and 4 of 15 from 3-point range during the five-game skid versus Oklahoma City.

Westbrook has shot at least 50.0 percent from the field in four straight against Phoenix, averaging 24.3 points. He had 31 points and 10 assists in a 115-104 win over the Suns on March 7 in the most recent matchup while Durant and James Harden each scored 30.

Harden, a former Arizona State star, has averaged 22.0 points on 61.5 percent shooting in the past four meetings.

Harden's 40 leads Thunder past Phoenix 109-97

By BOB BAUM
Posted Apr 19 2012 2:08AM

PHOENIX (AP) James Harden has had his way with Phoenix this season.

Oklahoma City's bearded, superb reserve scored a career-high 40 points, hitting five 3-pointers, and the Thunder dealt Phoenix a blow in its scramble to make the playoffs with a 109-97 victory over the Suns on Wednesday night.

"James obviously had a terrific game," Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks said. "He had everything going. He had his mid-range, he had his 3 and he had his free throw game on tonight."

Harden, who starred at nearby Arizona State, made 12 of 17 shots overall and was 11 of 11 from the free throw line in 33 minutes. He said it was a special night with "family, coaches, friends" in the stands.

"It was good when you get on a roll like that," Harden said. "We bounced back from a bad loss and a bad second half to get a win."

The Thunder were beaten by the Clippers in Los Angeles 92-77 on Monday night.

"It was a really really good win," Kevin Durant said, "a really good bounce-back win for us and against a team that's trying to get every win to get into the playoffs."

Harden also scored 30 points against the Suns on March 7. His previous high was 33 against Charlotte on March 10.

"He was feeling it tonight," the Suns' Steve Nash said. "I feel like we weren't tough enough on him. We were just a little soft. On pick and roll coverage he was getting loose, and when he's feeling it, he can make you pay in different ways."

Durant added 29 points and Russell Westbrook 15 for the Thunder, who stayed a half-game behind San Antonio for the top playoff seed in the Western Conference.

Phoenix's loss, coupled with Utah's victory over Portland, moved the Jazz a half-game ahead of the Suns for the West's eighth and final playoff spot.

Jared Dudley scored 21 points for Phoenix.

Channing Frye scored 13 for the Suns. Nash added 12 points but just five assists. Phoenix center Marcin Gortat was just 2 of 13 shooting, the majority of the misses on layups after passes from Nash, for nine points.

The Suns jumped out to a 19-6 lead and were up 25-13 after Dudley's inside basket with 4:18 left in the first quarter. But Phoenix never scored again in the period as the Thunder reeled off 16 in a row, 10 by Harden, to take a 29-25 lead after one.

The game stayed close until a 13-2 run gave the Thunder a 50-41 lead on Kendrick Perkins' dunk. The Thunder led 52-45 at the break.

Oklahoma City led throughout the third quarter, but never by more than seven.

Nash drew a technical while complaining about the lack of a kicked ball call, then coach Alvin Gentry was whistled for one for arguing about the Nash technical. Durant made both free throws, then Harden made a pair at the line to put Oklahoma City up 73-67 with 3:07 left in the third. Derek Fisher's 21-footer at the buzzer gave the Thunder an 81-77 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Oklahoma City outscored the Suns 7-2 to start the final quarter to take an 89-79 lead. His fifth 3-pointer of the night made it 101-86 with 7:11 to go.

Notes: John MacLeod, who holds the Suns' franchise records for victories and tenure as coach, was inducted to the team's "Ring of Honor" at halftime. MacLeod's Suns 579-543 from 1973 to midway through the 1986-87 season. His 1975-76 team reached the NBA Finals, losing in six games to the Boston Celtics in a series that included a triple-overtime defeat considered one of the greatest games in league history. ... After returning for two games following a medical procedure to repair a meniscus tear in his right knee, Phoenix's Grant Hill sat out his second game in a row to give the knee more time to heal. ... The Thunder play at Sacramento on Friday, then meet the Lakers in Los Angeles on Sunday before closing the regular season with home games against Sacramento and Denver. ... Three of Phoenix's final four games are at home, beginning Thursday night against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Notebook: Thunder 109, Suns 97

Posted Thursday April 19, 2012 1:23AM

By Mike Tulumello, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: If the Phoenix Suns play the Oklahoma City Thunder in the playoffs, they'll need to find somebody who can guard James Harden.

The NBA's likely sixth-man-of-the-year winner scored a career high 40 and dealt a blow to the Suns' playoff hopes in the Thunder's 109-97 win Wednesday in Arizona.

The Thunder (45-17), No. 2 in the West, remained a half-game behind No. 1 San Antonio Spurs.

The Suns slipped back to No. 9 in the West's playoff battle, though they still can clinch the post-season by wining their final four games.

But that would mean beating the Los Angeles Clippers at home Thursday, the No. 7. Denver Nuggets at home Saturday, the No. 8 Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City Tuesday, then the San Antonio Spurs at home Wednesday.

The Jazz can take the final spot by winning their three remaining games, all at home: Saturday vs. Orlando, Tuesday vs. the Suns and Thursday vs. fast- fading Portland.

"We didn't play sharp," said the Suns' Steve Nash. "We missed layups and free throws.

"And Harden got loose. It was too much to overcome. Hopefully, we can wash this away and go for broke (against the Clippers Thursday)."

The Suns came out energized in grabbing a 19-6 lead. But Harden put up 19 points in the first half, while the Thunder defense -- No. 4 in defensive field goal percentage at .427 -- shut the Suns down in taking a 52-45 halftime lead.

The game was close but took a turn in the Thunder's favor at the end of the third quarter.

That's when Derek Fisher nailed a 20-footer to beat the buzzer. Then, seconds into the fourth quarter, the Suns failed to grab a loose ball, Fisher picked it up and threw up a 3-pointer.

He missed but was fouled by Sebastian Telfair. Fisher hit all three free throws. His 5-0 run gave the Thunder an 85-77 lead, one they never surrendered.

Jared Dudley led the Suns with 21 points.

The Suns were without their defensive specialist, Grant Hill, who sat out with a sore knee. Hill has had success in guarding Kevin Durant.

The Suns, with Dudley taking the lead, still kept Durant (10-for-20 for 29 points) within reason. But they had nobody to guard Harden.

The Suns are hoping Hill can return Thursday, where he might be used to guard Chris Paul.

QUOTABLE: "We wanted him to see a crowd...four hands. We did a good job. Our rotations were on point, and we got out to the shooters."
-- Thunder head coach Scott Brooks on defending Nash, who had just five assists plus five turnovers.

THE STAT: The Thunder hit 31-for-34 on free throws.

TURNING POINT: When Harden entered the game with the Suns leading, 21-11 lead. The Thunder sixth man, mostly guarded by Shannon Brown, quickly scored 10 points as the Thunder took a 29-25 lead at quarter's end.

QUOTABLE II: "After Kobe and Wade, who's the next best 2-guard? You'd be hard-pressed to fin a 2-guard who's playing better. He's really right there."
-- Suns head coach Alvin Gentry on Harden. He said this before tipoff, then Harden went out and scored a career-high 40.

HOT: Harden hit 12-for-17, including 5-for-8 on 3-pointers. He also nailed all 11 of his free throws.

NOT: The Suns missed nine (of 32) crucial free throws.

INSIDE THE ARENA: The Suns inducted John MacLeod, the winningest coach in franchise history, into their Ring of Honor at halftime.

NOTABLE: The Suns need one more win to record their 30th winning season out of 44 in franchise history.

UP NEXT: For the Thunder, Friday @ Sacramento, Sunday @ Los Angeles Lakers and Tuesday vs. Kings. For the Suns, Thursday vs. Los Angeles Clippers, Saturday vs. Nuggets and Tuesday @ Utah.

• Thunder: Jackson, Maynor
• Suns: --

• Thunder: Perkins
• Suns: Gentry, Lopez, Nash, Telfair

• Lead Changes: 6
• Times Tied: 7

• Arena: US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ
• Officials: #23 Jason Phillips, #30 John Goble, #52 Scott Twardoski
• Attendance: 14873
• Duration: 2:25