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Suns-Thunder Preview

Feb 22, 2010 - 10:56 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Phoenix (34-23) at Oklahoma City (33-21), 8:00 p.m. EDT

When his team fell to Oklahoma City two months ago, Phoenix Suns coach Alvin Gentry said not to underestimate the Thunder.

It's unlikely any team will do that anymore.

The Thunder will go for the franchise's first 10-game winning streak in 13 seasons Tuesday night when they host the Suns.

Led by 38 points from Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City (33-21) snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Suns with a 117-113 victory in Phoenix on Dec. 23.

"Except for being young, they're a very strong team," Gentry said after the loss. "The things you love about them, they're young and energetic."

Durant, 21, has developed into one of the league's top scorers, averaging 29.8 points - second to LeBron James' 30.0 per game. Durant scored 10 of his 32 in the final 2:20 of Sunday's 109-107 victory in Minnesota for his 28th straight game with 25 or more points. It is the longest such streak since Michael Jordan's 40-game run in 1986-87.

"It's just me being aggressive," said Durant, averaging 32.3 points on 50.7 percent shooting during this stretch. "It's cool, but I'm glad we got nine (wins) in a row. That's a first for me in my career and I'd rather have that."

Another victory would give the Thunder franchise its first 10-game winning streak since the Seattle SuperSonics won 11 straight from Nov. 7-24, 1996.

Oklahoma City has averaged 104.9 points during this win streak, but is facing a Suns team that's playing better defense of late.

Phoenix (34-23), which has won eight of 10 following a 2-7 stretch, is giving up 106.4 points per game this season - third-most in the league - but has held its last two opponents below 90. The Suns haven't kept three straight opponents under 90 since Dec. 10-13, 2006.

"Defense and rebounding, that's what we did in the beginning of the season," Jason Richardson said after scoring 26 points in Sunday's 104-88 victory over Sacramento. "We got away from that for a while. But now guys are taking it upon themselves to do what we were doing in the beginning of the season. I think when we defend like that we are tough to stop."

Even with rumors swirling about him getting traded prior to last Thursday's deadline, Amare Stoudemire has been hard to stop lately, averaging 25.2 points and 11.6 rebounds in the last nine games. He had 35 and 14 in the Dec. 23 loss to Oklahoma City.

Phoenix hit 50.0 percent from the field in that game, but the Thunder have since held 26 consecutive opponents below that mark.

One of the Suns' best shooters won't be available for the rematch because Steve Nash isn't making the trip to Oklahoma City in order to rest his sore lower back and abdomen.

Nash, who had 17 assists Sunday and is the league leader with 11.2 per game, hadn't missed a game all season.

Goran Dragic will start in his place and be matched up with Russell Westbrook, who is averaging 20.6 points, 9.5 assists and 7.4 rebounds in the last eight games. Westbrook posted his second career triple-double Sunday with 22 points, 14 assists and 10 boards.

"It was past due," Durant said. "He could have had five or six by now. I am happy for him. He has come a long way."

Westbrook scored 31 in Phoenix's last visit to Oklahoma City - a 110-102 Suns win Dec. 29, 2008.