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Durant unlikely to play as Thunder visit Hawks

Mar 4, 2011 - 4:03 PM (Sports Network) - It appears NBA leading scorer and Oklahoma City superstar Kevin Durant will not be in the lineup tonight against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena because of a sprained left ankle.

Durant aggravated the same ankle that forced him to miss two games in November during the Thunder's 113-89 victory over the Indiana Pacers Wednesday night. Durant, who's averaging 28.4 ppg, collided with Pacers forward Tyler Hansbrough in the third quarter and limped off the court with 21 points on the night. He missed practice Thursday and said the injury's getting better.

"I feel good today, better than I thought I would," Durant said at Thursday's practice in which he shot free throws. "We'll just have to see what happens tomorrow."

With their superstar listed as doubtful, the Thunder will have to rely on Russell Westbrook for most of the scoring. Westbrook also scored 21 points against the Pacers and handed out nine assists, while James Harden scored 20 points off the bench and Serge Ibaka pulled down 12 rebounds to go with seven points for Oklahoma City, which ended a season-worst three-game slide. Harden will most likely start in Durant's place.

"We needed a win and we came out tonight like we wanted to," Westbrook said.

Nazr Mohammed and Nate Robinson made their Oklahoma City debuts, with Mohammed providing eight points and seven rebounds and Robinson six points. The Thunder are fourth in the West and will play six of their next eight games on the road. They are 16-13 as the visitor this season and have lost three straight away from the OKC.

Atlanta could be without one of its top players, as Josh Smith is doubtful for Friday with a strained right MCL. Smith is averaging 16.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists and did not play in Wednesday's 83-80 win over the Central Division-leading Chicago Bulls in the opener of a four-game homestand.

Smith was replaced by Jason Collins, who had one point and one rebound. Al Horford was able to lead the Hawks back from a 19-point deficit, finishing with 31 points and 16 rebounds. Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford both had 12 points for Atlanta, winners in three of four games.

"I think we responded well as a team," Horford said. "We stayed with it, we kept defending, rebounding and just got it done."

Marvin Williams netted 10 points in the win. The Hawks will also host New York and the LA Lakers on the residency, and are in the midst of playing 10 of the next 11 games in Dixie.

The Hawks are 18-9 at home and sit fifth in the Eastern Conference standings.

Oklahoma City handed Atlanta a 103-94 loss back on Dec. 31 this season in the OKC and has won three straight and 12 of the last 16 meetings in this series. Westbrook posted a triple-double with 23 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, while Durant pumped in 33 points on New Year's Eve.