Thunder 109 - 97 Suns
Final
  for this game

Thunder, Suns battle for playoff position

Apr 18, 2012 - 3:18 PM (Sports Network) - Oklahoma City is playing for the top spot in the Western Conference while Phoenix is playing for its playoff life as the two teams get set to meet in the desert on Wednesday.

The Thunder are one-half game behind San Antonio for bragging rights in the West and the Suns are deadlocked with Houston for the eighth and final postseason spot with five games to play.

Oklahoma City is in the midst of a five-game road trip and a 92-77 loss to the Clippers on Monday coupled with back-to-back Spurs wins at Golden State and the Lakers has the Thunder looking up at San Antonio for the time being.

Kevin Durant poured in a game-high 24 points against the Clips for Oklahoma City, which lost the season series 3-1 and have dropped four straight against the Clippers in LA. Serge Ibaka and James Harden each added 12 points.

The Thunder shot almost 44 percent from the floor in the first half and took a 52-43 advantage into intermission, but the Clippers turned up the defensive intensity in the second half, holding the visitors to just 25 points on an abysmal 29 percent clip.

"We didn't make shots in the second half, and they got hot," said Thunder coach Scottie Brooks. "Give them credit, they're a good defensive team. We could have moved the ball better. We missed free-throws and we turned the ball over too many times."

The Suns, meanwhile, continued their playoff push on Monday, opening up a four-game homestand by downing Portland 125-107. Marcin Gortat paced a balanced offensive attack with 20 points and 10 rebounds as Phoenix rolled.

Channing Frye finished with 19 points and six rebounds, Jared Dudley added 18 points, Shannon Brown netted 16, while Markieff Morris donated 14 and six rebounds.

"Offensively, we're playing at a high level. When we play unselfish and we move the ball like we did and shoot the ball from three, it's hard to beat us," Dudley said.

The Suns improved to 7-3 in the month of April and are 20-10 since beginning the season 12-19

The Thunder have won five straight over Phoenix, including a pair of meetings in OKC this season, and are unbeaten in three consecutive games in the Valley of the Sun.






Related News