Thunder-Raptors Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Jan 05 2013 11:54PM

No team has played fewer road games than the NBA-leading Oklahoma City Thunder.

That, however, is about to change.

The Thunder kick off a road-heavy stretch Sunday against a Toronto Raptors team seeking a fifth win in six home matchups in this series.

After going 17-3 on their own court, Oklahoma City (25-7) knows things likely will be more difficult as it gets ready to play 11 of its next 13 in opposing arenas.

"It's a good test for us to see where we're at. The road is always tough, no matter who you're playing," Kevin Durant said. "We've got to come out there and try to do a good job. We're looking forward to it."

The Thunder have only played 12 road games, going 8-4 while averaging 102.5 points - 5.0 less than their mark at home.

"We all play the same number in the end, so it evens out," Durant told the league's official website. "So it's just our turn. It's a challenge.

"We know that it's hard to win on the road and takes a different and higher level of concentration and effort. But with the team that we have now, full of veteran players, and the things that we've been through together and accomplished, it's not something that we fear or worry about."

The Thunder didn't have much cause for concern Friday against Philadelphia. Oklahoma City shot 52.0 percent and outscored the 76ers 63-43 in the second half of an easy 109-85 win, getting back on track following a 110-93 defeat to Brooklyn two nights earlier.

"It was much better," forward Nick Collison said. "We were fighting over screens and contesting shots. It was great. It was exactly what we needed after the last game. We will have to do it again next time we play."

Durant and Russell Westbrook combined for 53 points while Kevin Martin scored 16. Serge Ibaka added 15 points and 10 boards.

"Now we expect it from him," Durant said of Ibaka, who's averaging career highs of 14.3 points and 8.5 rebounds "When he has a double-double, it's not like, `Breaking news: Serge had a double-double!' It's normal for him now. He's playing well for us, and we're going to need that from him all season."

Ibaka scored 17 on 8-of-9 shooting as Oklahoma City blew by Toronto 108-88 on Nov. 6. While the Thunder have won 10 of 12 in this series at home, they've yielded 109.2 points per game in dropping four of five at Air Canada Centre. Their last visit, however, came in December 2010.

Though a trip to Toronto (12-21) wouldn't appear daunting, the last-place Raptors have more than held their own over the last three weeks. Toronto entered Friday having won eight of nine before a 105-96 loss to Sacramento.

Kyle Lowry had 24 points and Alan Anderson scored 20 for the Raptors, who went 30 for 79 from the field (38.0 percent) and allowed the Kings to shoot 52.6 percent.

"A loss always makes you understand what you have to work on," said DeMar DeRozan, who had 14 points on 3-of-11 shooting after averaging 25.0 over his previous three games. "Tonight just wasn't our night on both ends."

Toronto was outscored 52-32 in the paint Friday and dropped to 0-15 when allowing at least 100 points.

Coach Dwane Casey, though, was quick to dismiss the notion that his team was looking ahead to Sunday's showdown.

"We have no right to look forward to anybody," he said. "We've gotta work and play like a desperate team each and every night."

Westbrook scores 23, Thunder beat Raptors 104-92

By IAN HARRISON
Posted Jan 06 2013 5:03PM

TORONTO (AP) To Kevin Durant, an early afternoon start in Toronto against an improving Raptors team was a trap waiting to be sprung on Oklahoma City.

But with a balanced offensive attack, and a defensive correction in the second half, the Thunder steered clear of getting caught.

Russell Westbrook scored 23 points, Durant had 22 and Oklahoma City beat the Raptors 104-92 on Sunday, giving the Thunder a winning start to a stretch that sees them play 11 of 13 on the road.

"This is one of those trap games when you play at 1:00 p.m. in Toronto," Durant said. "It's a tough place to play. A few teams came in here and lost around this time. We knew we had to be focused and have a lot of energy from the beginning."

Serge Ibaka had 19 points and eight rebounds and Kevin Martin scored 16 for Oklahoma City, who came in having played an NBA-low 12 road games this season but improved to 9-4 as visitors.

"We just want to keep on playing like we're at home and keep on racking up the wins," Martin said.

Nick Collison had 10 points and eight rebounds to help the Thunder win for the fifth time in eight games since their season-long 12-game winning streak.

Oklahoma City is 14-0 this season when at least five players score in double figures.

"Everybody participated, everybody chipped in and everybody did their job," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "We're good when we force the defense to chase the ball around and the ball finds a good shot. It's not really who finds it, just as long as it's a good shot."

Westbrook and Durant each had seven assists. For Durant, that was his most since dishing out a career-high 10 against Golden State on Nov. 18.

"Kevin is the best scorer in the game," Westbrook said. "He can score whenever he pleases but he does a great job of keeping his teammates involved."

Alan Anderson scored 19 of his career-high 27 points in the second quarter and Amir Johnson had 19 for the Raptors, who lost their second straight after winning eight of nine.

"I praised our guys, the way we fought and scrapped," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. "But at the end of day reality set in."

DeMar DeRozan scored 11 points but made just four of 16 field goal attempts. DeRozan made only 3 of 11 attempts in Friday's loss to Sacramento.

"We wanted to make sure we didn't give him any easy shots," Brooks said. "He's an athletic guy that can get to the rim and his mid-range game is good."

Kyle Lowry scored 10 for the Raptors, who had won four of their previous five home meetings with Oklahoma City. Jose Calderon had 10 points and 11 assists as Toronto dropped to 6-14 against Western Conference opponents.

Toronto guard Terrence Ross left one minute into the fourth quarter with a sprained left ankle and did not return. Casey said Ross' injury is not considered serious but declined to say whether the rookie would be available for Wednesday's game against Philadelphia.

Ibaka scored 10 points as the Thunder built a 23-12 lead with 3:10 left in the first, but Toronto closed the quarter with six straight points to make it 23-18 after one.

Anderson connected on his first six field goal attempts of the second quarter, including four 3-pointers, as the Raptors took a 39-37 lead with 5:40 left. Toronto kept it close the rest of the way, but a 3 by Thabo Sefolosha with 36 seconds left gave Oklahoma City a 52-50 edge at the half.

"That second quarter we were just exchanging baskets and when you do that, teams can get comfortable and teams can get hot," Brooks said.

Anderson and the Raptors cooled off in the third, making just five of 16 field goal attempts. Westbrook scored 12 points for the Thunder in the third as Oklahoma City pulled away again, taking a 78-67 lead into the fourth.

"In the second half we really locked in defensively," Brooks said. "Our length and athleticism causes a lot of problems."

NOTES: Toronto fell to 0-16 when allowing 100 points or more. ... This was the Thunder's first game north of the border since December, 2010. They did not visit the Raptors during the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season. ... Toronto C Aaron Gray (flulike symptoms) did not dress, with Johnson taking his place in the starting lineup. ... Raptors F Linas Kleiza (right knee) missed his fourth straight game. ... Former Buffalo Bills running back Thurman Thomas and former Raptors guard Muggsy Bogues attended the game.

Notebook: Thunder 104, Raptors 92

Duane Watson, for NBA.com
Posted Sun Jan 06, 2013 4:44 PM - Updated Sun Jan 06, 2013 4:44 PM

THE FACTS: The Oklahoma City Thunder (26-7) defeated the Toronto Raptors (12-22) 104-92 on Sunday afternoon. The Thunder started their road swing on a wining note, with 10 of their next 12 games will be away from home, while Toronto has dropped their second loss in a row at the Air Canada Centre.

Aside from an impressive Raptors second quarter where they scored 32 points, the Thunder played like an NBA elite squad, pushing the tempo, capitalizing on turnovers and moving the ball. Led by their all-star tandem of Kevin Durant, 22 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists, while Russell Westbrook scored 23 points and added 7 assists. Serge Ibaka added 19 points and 8 rebounds and Kevin Martin scored 16 points off the bench.

The Raptors made a 19-6 run with under 10 minutes left in the second quarter to push the score to 42-37, giving them their first lead of the game. Yet the Thunder rallied back to take a 52-50 lead into the half and continued pushing the tempo in the third with a 16-2 run, closing the quarter 78-67. In the fourth, the Raptors couldn't find ways to score, while the Thunder continued on, stretching their lead to a game high 21 points.

Alan Anderson led all scorers with a game-high 27 points off the bench and Amir Johnson added 19 points and 9 rebounds. Jose Calderon had a double-double of 10 points and 11 assists.

QUOTABLE: "He's all-around, he's not just an offensive player. He does many more things for us. He's a defender he's a rebounder, he's a passer, ball mover and a screen setter. He does all the little things that we ask Nick Collison to do. He just scores a little better than Nick."
-- Thunder Head Coach Scott Brooks on Durant.

THE STAT: One of the biggest attributes of the Thunder is their speed, and they utilized it on the break outscoring the Raptors 17-9, while the margin doesn't seem as significant, their quickness played out not only in their offense, but their ability to close out defensively.

TURNING POINT: The Thunder put the hammer down in the third quarter, going on a 16-2 run with under eight minutes left. Westbrook scored 12 points in the quarter, while their defense held the Raptors to .313 percent shooting, not only taking the energy out of the players, but the fans in the ACC as well.

QUOTABLE II: "We got a group of guys that love playing with each other and once we pass the ball at a high level like we did tonight, we give ourselves a chance to win every game."
-- Durant on the team play of the Thunder.

HOT: Anderson erupted for 19 points in the second quarter shooting 7-for-8 from the field and 4-for-5 from the 3-point line with 2 assists a rebound and a steal. He put the Raptors back in the game and fueled their 32-point second quarter.

NOT: DeMar DeRozan is averaging 18.3 points per game but was held to 3-for-14 shooting through the first three quarters for only 6 points. The Thunder defensive strategy of keying in on him and taking him out of his rhythm worked.

NOTABLE: The Thunder are 14-0 when five players score in double digits. Terrence Ross left the game in the third quarter with a sprained left ankle and did not return. NFL Hall of Fame and former Buffalo Bills running back Thurman Thomas was in attendance. The Raptors are 0-16 when allowing opponents to score 100-plus points. Aaron Gray missed the game with flu-like symptoms for the Raptors and Johnson was inserted into the starting lineup in his place.

UP NEXT: For the Raptors; Wednesday vs. Philadelphia, Friday vs. Charlotte, Sunday vs. Milwaukee. For the Thunder; Monday @ Washington, Wednesday @ Minnesota and Friday @ Lakers.

• Thunder: Jones, Lamb, Orton
• Raptors: Bargnani, Valanciunas

• Thunder: Durant
• Raptors: Casey, Lowry

• Lead Changes: 8
• Times Tied: 0

• Arena: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON
• Officials: #19 James Capers, #73 Tre Maddox, #59 Gary Zielinski
• Attendance: 17634
• Duration: 2:12