Final
Thunder aim for 15th straight home win, host Cavs
Mar 9, 2012 - 4:19 PM (Sports Network) - Chesapeake Energy Arena has been a house of horrors for opposing teams and the Oklahoma City Thunder like it that way.The Western Conference-leading Thunder look to make it 15 straight wins at home when they entertain the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight in the continuation of a five-game residency. The Thunder are coming off Wednesday's 115-104 victory versus Portland, as Russell Westbrook finished with 31 points and 10 assists, James Harden and Kevin Durant netted 30 points apiece and Serge Ibaka grabbed 20 boards to go with 18 points.
"I think we play better when we play with emotion on the defensive end, and I think they did that. This team, they leave everything on the floor," Thunder head coach Scott Brooks said on Oklahoma City's website.
Oklahoma City is 17-1 as the host and owns a comfortable lead atop the Northwest Division standings. It will also entertain Charlotte and Houston on the homestand and is riding the longest winning streak as the host since a 17- game run from Nov. 11, 1994 - Jan. 24, 1995.
The Thunder are 8-2 against the Eastern Conference this season, including a 4-0 mark at home.
Meanwhile, rookie Kyrie Irving and the Cavaliers will wrap up a quick two-game road trip tonight and ended a six-game losing streak with a 100-99 victory at Denver on Wednesday.
Irving scored 18 points and delivered the knockout blow to the Nuggets on a driving layup with four seconds to go in the game. Antawn Jamison scored a game-high 33 points to go with nine rebounds for the Cavs, who are 6-11 away from the Forest City.
"He basically carried us and that's what he's been doing a lot lately," Cleveland coach Byron Scott said of Jamison. "He's carrying these young guys."
Alonzo Gee netted 19 points in the win. Cleveland hasn't won consecutive road games since November of the 2010-11 campaign. Jamison is averaging 23.6 points and 8.2 rebounds in his last nine games.
Cleveland and Oklahoma City are meeting for the first time since the Thunder swept a home-and-home set a season ago. The Cavs have lost 15 of the past 19 road matchups against the Oklahoma City franchise.
- CLEVELAND: 96
OKLAHOMA CITY: 90
Final
Mar 9 10:22 PM - CLEVELAND: 69
OKLAHOMA CITY: 69
End of 3rd
Mar 9 9:47 PM - CLEVELAND: 49
OKLAHOMA CITY: 51
Halftime
Mar 9 9:11 PM - CLEVELAND: 26
OKLAHOMA CITY: 27
End of 1st
Mar 9 8:38 PM - CLEVELAND: 0
OKLAHOMA CITY: 0
1st Quarter - 12:00
Mar 9 8:12 PM
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