By Paris Lawson | Broadcast and Digital Reporter | okcthunder.com
TIPOFF: 6 P.M. CT
TV: BALLY SPORTS OK
RADIO: WWLS/WKY
Following a short stint at home, the Thunder hits the road for a pair of Eastern Conference matchups in Washington D.C. and Brooklyn. First up, the OKC takes on the Wizards for the second time this season and looks to even the series as the Wizards took the first meeting 101-99 back in November.
WHAT TO WATCH
- Crunch Time Experience – The last time these two teams met; it came down to a crunch-time battle that hinged on a go-ahead Thunder 3-pointer that fell just shy of a bucket. Since that contest, both the Thunder and the Wizards have racked up a host of late-game experiences and as a result sit in the top two in the league in number of wins in one-possession games this season.
On Sunday, the Wizards defeated Orlando 102-100 which improved their one-possession game record to 8-2 overall. The Thunder fall right behind Washington in the category with a 5-2 overall record.
- Beal in the Backcourt – The Wizards offense is headlined by three-time All Star Bradley Beal who averages 24 points per night. In addition, the guard also dishes out a team-high 6.4 assists per night which results in a total of 39 points generated via assist or score. Keep an eye on how the Thunder work to limit Beal’s productivity offensively.
- Limited Looks on the Break – Don’t expect either team to generate many looks on the break as both Thunder and the Wizards are the only two teams to hold their opponents to less than 10 fast break points each night. Against the Nuggets, OKC found success by getting stops defensively and getting out transition for easy looks. By the end of the night, the Thunder generated 13 fast break points compared to just eight for the Nuggets. Keep an eye on this battle of strengths and how the Thunder can fight to generate easy looks on the break.
NOTABLE
The Thunder’s second unit has been a strength of the team all season long. Against the Nuggets, the bench provided a massive boost of energy to help spur the Thunder’s effort to eliminate its 18-point deficit. By the end of the night, OKC’s reserves outscored Denver’s 48 to 43 which marked the 188th consecutive game with 20 or more bench points by the Thunder. The streak is by far the longest active stretch of any team in the league and dates back to April of 2019.
QUOTABLE
SCOUTING REPORT
While Beal leads Washington (20-20) in scoring each night, it was Kyle Kuzma who led the way in the Wizards’ last game against the Magic. Kuzma finished the night with a 27-point, 22-rebound double-double on an efficient 10-of-19 from the field. Over the last seven games, Kuzma has averaged 26 points and 12 rebounds on 51 percent shooting. In addition to Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Spender Dinwiddie round out the Wizard’s lineup as Daniel Gafford, who recorded a career-high eight blocks in the last meeting with the Thunder, anchors the paint.