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Thunder kick off homestand vs. Bobcats

Mar 18, 2011 - 3:00 PM (Sports Network) - Kevin Durant and his streaking Oklahoma City Thunder will begin a six-game homestand Friday night versus the playoff-hopeful Charlotte Bobcats in the OKC.

The Thunder won all three tests on their recent three-game road trip and are coming off an impressive 96-85 win over the star-studded Miami Heat on Wednesday behind Durant's 29 points and 18 from Russell Westbrook.

James Harden scored 12 points in a reserve role for Oklahoma City, which matched a season high with its fifth straight win and posted its fourth consecutive victory on the road despite shooting 39 percent.

"Our defense was as good as it could possibly be," said Thunder head coach Scott Brooks. "We were making them miss."

Brooks' squad limited LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to 16.7 percent shooting (4-24) in the second half. The Thunder are 11-0 this season when holding the opposing team to fewer than 90 points. Durant is slated to appear in his 300th career games tonight for Oklahoma City, which is 21-6 against the East and 23-9 at home this season. The Thunder will also host the Raptors, Jazz, Timberwolves, Blazers and Warriors.

Oklahoma City, seeded fourth in the West, has won eight of nine games overall and three straight as the host. Harden is averaging 17.0 ppg since the All- Star break.

Charlotte will resume a four-game road trip tonight and is only a half-game behind Indiana for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.

The Bobcats had a modest two-game winning streak stopped with Wednesday's 94-78 setback in Houston, as D.J. Augustin and Boris Diaw scored 22 and 13 points, respectively, in a losing effort. Stephen Jackson had only six points in the team's seventh loss in nine tries.

"They got some easy transition points and knocked down some three's," Augustin said. "They played hard out there. They've got a lot of great shooters on that team. (Chase) Budinger hit some open shots and (Kyle) Lowry does a great job pushing the ball. They are a great all around team."

Charlotte is 1-1 on the trek and will also visit San Antonio. It is 11-23 away from Time Warner Cable Arena this season. Augustin has scored in double figures in 10 of his last 11 games, averaging 16.9 points in that span.

Jackson is still posting 20.9 ppg in his last 22 contests even though he made just 2-of-14 shots against the Rockets.

Oklahoma City topped Charlotte, 99-81, on Dec. 21 this season on the road and has won three of the last four matchups between the clubs. Charlotte has lost two in a row and five of six road meetings in this series.