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Thunder-Bucks Preview

Jan 1, 2010 - 8:12 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Oklahoma City (18-14) at Milwaukee (12-18), 8:30 p.m. EDT

The Oklahoma City Thunder are finally finding ways to win following a terrible three-season stretch. Kevin Durant's record scoring run certainly isn't hurting.

Durant, who has tied a franchise mark for consecutive 30-point games, leads the Thunder as they attempt to extend their winning streak to six for the first time in five years in a matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night.

With an 87-86 victory over Utah on Thursday night, the Oklahoma City franchise won five straight for the first time since March 18-25, 2005. The last time it won more than five in a row was in November 2004, when Seattle had a nine-game streak after losing its season opener.

"We're finding a way to win games," said Nick Collison, who made the tying and go-ahead free throws with 4.5 seconds left. "We've been talented for a long time and now we're finding a way to win even when we don't play well."

Collison has been with the franchise since 2004-05, enduring three straight seasons in which the Thunder (18-14) had winning percentages below .380. The veteran forward is a key part of a bench that hasn't been needed for much scoring with Durant carrying most of the load.

Durant is coming off his sixth straight 30-point game, tying the franchise record set by Spencer Haywood in January 1972. The third-year forward, averaging 34.0 points during his scoring run, has the Thunder tied with the Jazz for eighth place in the Western Conference.

"It's early, man. We're just hitting the new year. Anything can happen in these next three or four months," Durant said. "We've just got to continue to play our brand of basketball and get better and worry about us."

Durant had 33 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in his first matchup with Milwaukee (12-18) this season, a 108-90 Oklahoma City win Nov. 27. Milwaukee shot 37.8 percent in that contest.

The Bucks have been held under 40 percent shooting three times during a four-game losing streak, and have lost seven of eight following a strong start. They shot 39.2 percent (38 for 97) in a 117-92 loss at Orlando on Wednesday night.

Milwaukee is also struggling defensively during its skid, giving up 108.0 points a contest.

Center Andrew Bogut and the Bucks' frontcourt twice disrupted alley-oop dunks by Orlando's Dwight Howard, but Milwaukee coach Scott Skiles wants his team to be more active. The Magic ended up shooting 55.8 percent (43 for 77).

"We needed some more resistance out of Andrew," Skiles said.

Bogut had 15 points and 10 rebounds following one of the worst games of his career, posting two points on 1-of-6 shooting in a 94-84 loss to Charlotte on Monday night. He missed this season's first matchup with Oklahoma City due to a leg injury.