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First takes on worst in OKC as Thunder face Hornets

Jan 25, 2012 - 3:43 PM (Sports Network) - The Western Conference's best team hosts the worst tonight, as the Oklahoma City Thunder entertain the New Orleans Hornets at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Oklahoma City has the best record in the conference at 14-3, while the Hornets sport the worst in a 3-14 ledger. The Northwest Division-leading Thunder will wrap up a quick two-game homestand Wednesday and have won two straight and nine of their last 10 games, including Monday's 99-79 victory over Detroit. James Harden and Russell Westbrook each scored 24 points and Kevin Durant provided 20 points for the Thunder, who are off to the franchise's best start (14-3) since the Seattle SuperSonics opened 14-3 in 2004-05.

"It was a good game for us," said Durant. "I think we came out there with a lot of intensity. Our coaches from the beginning did a great job of preparing us from the start this morning. We got a good win."

The Thunder are 7-1 at home and have won four straight as the host. They will play three straight and eight of nine games on the road following tonight's game versus the Hornets.

New Orleans has lost eight in a row and 14 of its last 15 games since opening the 2011-12 truncated season with consecutive victories. It is coming off a heartbreaking 104-102 loss versus San Antonio on Monday, as Tim Duncan's runner with 1.4 seconds left sent New Orleans to the loss column once again.

Carl Landry's tip-in of a Jarrett Jack miss tied the game with 5.2 seconds left, but the Spurs capitalized on the other end. Landry had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but his straightaway three-point try fell short.

"It's extremely frustrating," said Jack, who scored a team-high 26 points. "The good part is that we gave ourselves a chance. That's all that you can really ask for in this league."

Landry and Trevor Ariza had 18 points apiece for New Orleans, which has dropped two in a row on the road and is 2-5 outside of the Big Easy this season. The Hornets reached 100 points for the first time this season

After tonight's game at Oklahoma City the Hornets will play back-to-back home games versus the Magic and Hawks. For how poorly the Hornets have played this season, they have held 14 of their first 17 opponents under 100 points and rank ninth in the NBA in opponent points allowed per game (91.9).

The Hornets announced Tuesday that they have picked up the option for the 2012-13 season for guards Xavier Henry and Greivis Vasquez. Henry is in his second NBA season after being selected 12th overall in the 2010 NBA Draft. In 17 games with the Hornets this season, Vasquez is averaging 5.6 points.

New Orleans lost to the Thunder, 95-85, back on Jan. 11 this season, as Durant had 29 points and 10 rebounds to lead OKC. Landry and Chris Kaman had 17 points apiece for the Hornets, who have lost six of the last seven meetings between the two clubs. NOLA has lost three straight after winning the last four road matchups in this series.