Thunder 102 - 105 Wizards
Final
  for this game

It's first vs. worst when Thunder visit Wizards

Jan 18, 2012 - 3:46 PM (Sports Network) - The Oklahoma City Thunder own the best record in the NBA. Tonight, they hope to pad that lead when they play the league's worst team, the Washington Wizards at the Verizon Center.

Oklahoma improved to 12-2 with an impressive win on Monday in Boston, as Kevin Durant scored 28 points and Russell Westbrook added 26, including two clutch three-pointers in the final minutes that helped the Thunder earn a 97-88 victory over the Celtics.

Thabo Sefolosha provided 12 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter for Oklahoma City, which won its seventh consecutive game, its longest streak since a team-record nine game run from Jan. 29-Feb. 21, 2010.

"They digged themselves a hole and I think from the start we were locked in on both ends," Durant said. "The offense could use some more work, but I think we did a good job with being aggressive."

Thunder center Kendrick Perkins played at TD Garden for the first time since the Celtics traded him to Oklahoma City last February. He finished with seven points and five rebounds in just under than 28 minutes.

A win tonight would give the franchise its best start since the Seattle SuperSonics went 13-2 to open the 2004-05 campaign. The Thunder, who have won four in a row on the road, are also trying to start the year 7-1 away from home for the first time since the Sonics were 8-1 back in 1996-97.

At the other end of the spectrum are the Wizards who come into tonight's contest having lost four in a row and owning the league's worst record at 1-12. Their most recent setback came on Monday when they dropped a 114-106 decision to the Houston Rockets.

John Wall paced the Wizards with a career-high 38 points. He also recorded eight assists, six rebounds and four steals, while Jordan Crawford contributed 17 points off the bench.

"You don't feel good about yourself," Wizards head coach Flip Saunders said. "As a team, that's how it has to be."

Oklahoma City has won the last five meetings in this series.






Related News