Pistons at Thunder Gameday

Scouting Report: The Thunder (7-33) are still at the bottom of the Western Conference, but their recent play suggests they might not stay there for long. They’re 4-4 over their last eight games and coming off their biggest win of the season, routing the Jazz at the Ford Center, 114-93. Second-year scoring sensation Kevin Durant was just the third-leading scorer for the Thunder Wednesday with 21 points, as fellow sophomore forward Jeff Green led the way with 23 points and rookie Russell Westbrook had 22 points and seven assists.

If the Thunder are coming of age in mid-season - after a 2-23 start - the turnaround has started on the glass, writes the Thunder’s Web site writer Chris Silva. “To date, the Thunder ranks ninth in team rebounding at 42.4 per game. The Thunder also has pulled down the third most rebounds (43.4) in the league over the last 10 games,” Silva reports. “Through the first 20 games of the season, the Thunder averaged just 40.8 rebounds a game. In the last 20 games, OKC has averaged 52.1 boards a game.”

Boosting those rebounding numbers for Oklahoma City are two 7-footers who didn’t play in their 90-88 defeat to the Pistons Dec. 26. Nick Collison is back from a thumb injury that kept him out of six games and the team has signed former Net Nenad Krstic. The duo tied for the team-high with 11 rebounds each against the Jazz. Their presence will provide a stiffer challenge to Pistons coach Michael Curry’s attempts to play his three-guard lineup.

Pistons Perspective: Allen Iverson put on a theatrical show against the Thunder the day after Christmas. He scored 14 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, including the game-winning floater just before the buzzer. He shot 9-for-17 from the floor against Oklahoma City.

When the calendar turned to January, Iverson’s shooting percentages plummeted like a thermometer in the Midwest. He is shooting 37 percent from the floor - including just 18.2 percent from 3-point range - in seven games this month. But Iverson isn’t alone in his shooting woes behind the arc. The Pistons rank 29th in 3-point shooting over the last 10 games (27.3 percent) - a reflection of time missed by the team leaders in 3-pointers made, Rasheed Wallace and Rip Hamilton. (Wallace made the Pistons’ only two triples against the Thunder Dec. 26.)

Hopefully the Pistons can build on a nine-triple performance at Indiana Wednesday, which included three each from Wallace and Rodney Stuckey. Defensively, both Oklahoma City and Detroit hold opponents to under 35.0 percent shooting from 3-point range, among the lowest marks in the NBA.

Probable Starters

Hamilton Prince Wallace Iverson Stuckey Forward Forward Center Guard Guard Durant Green Collison Mason Westbrook