Thunder 101 - 94 Nuggets
Final
  for this game

Thunder, Nuggets refresh Northwest rivalry in Rocky Mountains

Apr 5, 2011 - 3:02 PM (Sports Network) - The Northwest Division title can't be decided Tuesday night in the Pepsi Center, but the winner of tonight's game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets will go a long way in determining the recipient of the crown.

The Northwest's top two teams tangle in the first of two meetings over four days, as the Thunder aim to open up a virtually insurmountable four-game lead. A win by the second place Nuggets, however, would cut the deficit to two and put all the pressure squarely on a struggling Oklahoma City club.

The Thunder, who are finishing a four-game road trip tonight, come in on the heels of consecutive losses, the latest of which was a 98-92 defeat at the hands of the Clippers on Saturday.

Kevin Durant netted 23 points for Oklahoma City, which lost to Portland on Friday and has dropped back-to-back games for the first time since losing three in a row to end February's schedule, in that one.

"We gave up 61 points in the second half. That's not acceptable," Thunder head coach Scott Brooks said.

Russell Westbrook had a rare off night, shooting just 1-for-12 from the floor to finish with nine points to go with eight assists before fouling out.

Denver, meanwhile, continues to sizzle after a 95-90 win over the two-time defending NBA champion Lakers on Sunday. Danilo Gallinari led the way with 22 points and seven rebounds in that one, as the Nuggets snapped LA's nine-game winning streak and clinched a playoff berth with the victory.

Kenyon Martin finished with 18 points and eight boards, while Raymond Felton supplied 16 points off the bench for Denver, which has won six straight and 10 of its last 12 overall. The Nuggets are in fifth place in the Western Conference and improved to 15-4 since trading Carmelo Anthony to New York.

"Our big guys fought great and our little guards made good basketball decisions," Denver head coach George Karl said. "We're a young team and some of our guys were a little nervous, but our defense kept us in the game."

The Nuggets have taken eight of their past 10 meetings with the Thunder but the teams have split a pair of meetings so far this season with each holding serve on its home floor.

These two teams will meet again in Oklahoma City on Friday.






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