The NBA-leading Oklahoma City Thunder are in the top three in nearly all major offensive categories and appear headed toward another fine season. They look to build another winning streak as well when they resume a six-game western road trip Wednesday against the Golden State Warriors.
After having a six-game winning streak fall short in a loss at Denver last weekend, the Thunder got back on their feet with a 109-97 victory over Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and the Los Angeles Clippers Tuesday night.
Oklahoma City, which was led by Kevin Durant's 32 points, shot 52.6 percent for the game and buried 15-of-27 3-pointers. Durant hit five from downtown, while Russell Westbrook, Kevin Martin and Thabo Sefolosha each finished with a trio of 3-pointers. Westbrook delivered 26 points, Serge Ibaka added 17 and nine rebounds and Martin tallied 13 points of the bench.
"We did a good job of knocking down shots. They're a good team. It was big win for us," Westbrook said.
The Northwest Division-leading Thunder, who are first with 106.1 ppg, improved to 2-1 on the trip and 14-6 as the guest. They are tied with San Antonio for the most wins in the NBA at 33, are 29-2 when scoring 100-plus points this season and 15-0 when shooting 50 percent or better from the field. OKC is 40-0 when reaching 50 percent shooting dating back to 2010-11.
Oklahoma City still has Sacramento and the Los Angeles Lakers remaining on the road trip. Meanwhile, Durant is first in the NBA with 29.5 ppg and has scored 30 or more points in six of his last seven games.
Golden State will try to win three straight games when it wraps up a short two-game homestand Wednesday.
The Warriors made it two straight wins following a three-game slide and recorded a 106-99 triumph Monday versus the Clippers. Stephen Curry scored a game-best 28 points and both Klay Thompson and Jarrett Jack netted 18 points for the Warriors, who won for just the third time in the last eight tries and shot 52 percent for the game.
"This is a good sign for us," Curry said. "We have to keep fighting through this tough stretch of January. We've been playing pretty well."
David Lee supplied 12 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, and Jack finished with 18 points, 10 assists and six rebounds off the bench. Jack has recorded a double-double in three straight games.
Curry made 6-of-8 3-pointers in the win over the Clippers, while Golden State finished 12-of-22 from downtown (54.5 percent). Curry has made at least six 3- pointers in a game six times this season and is second in the NBA in 3-point percentage (46.4). He has scored 20-plus points in 23 of his last 29 games and needs seven 3-pointers to become the fifth player in franchise history with 500 or more. Curry, LeBron James and Russell Westbrook are the only players in the league averaging at least 20 points, six assists and four rebounds.
After entertaining the Thunder, Golden State, which is 13-6 at home and ninth in the league with 101.0 ppg, will head east for a four-game road trip against Chicago, Milwaukee, Toronto and Cleveland.
The Warriors lost to Oklahoma City, 119-109, back on Nov. 18 this season and have dropped five straight and 11 of the previous 14 matchups between the two Western foes.
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