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Sports

Thunder welcome Wall-led Wizards

By Sports Network
Published | Updated

Kevin Durant is the NBA's leading scorer and has posted 20- plus points in his last nine games for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who will host the Washington Wizards Wednesday night.

Durant is averaging 28.3 points this season and 27.1 ppg during his recent tear. He logged 24 points and 10 rebounds in Oklahoma City's latest win, a 103-83 besting of the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.

Russell Westbrook scored 21 points and dished out nine assists for the Thunder, who were coming off a 97-89 win at Orlando on Friday and have prevailed in 10 of the last 13 games.

"That's a good team win, everybody did their jobs tonight and made winning plays," said Thunder head coach Scott Brooks. "The defense really picked it up in the second half. We didn't give up anything easy."

Serge Ibaka tallied 16 points and five blocks in the win, Oklahoma City's eighth in the past nine tries at home.

The Thunder are 31-5 at home and 3 1/2 games ahead of Denver for the Northwest Division lead. They're also trying to catch San Antonio for the West's top seed and sit 1 1/2 games behind the Spurs.

After hosting the Wizards, Oklahoma City will play six of the next eight games on the road.

Washington has been playing well lately as evidenced by its six wins in the previous eight contests.

The Wizards are coming off Monday's improbable 107-94 victory over the playoff-bound Memphis Grizzlies and were led by John Wall's career-best 47 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Wall shot 13-of-22 from the field and a career-high 19-of-24 from the foul line.

"I was just in a zone," said Wall, who is averaging 25.0 points, 9.3 assists and 4.9 rebounds over his last nine games. "I made my first couple of shots and I knew I was in a great rhythm. Ten points in the first quarter, I knew I had it going."

Emeka Okafor had 21 points and nine rebounds in the win.

Washington, which is only 7-27 on the road, limps into Wednesday's meeting with the Thunder and could be down a few players. Forward Nene (knee/wrist/shoulder) and guards Trevor Ariza (flu), Bradley Beal (ankle) and A.J. Price (groin) are all questionable.

The Wizards defeated the Thunder 101-99 in the nation's capital on Jan. 7 this season and have won the past two games in this series. Oklahoma City has won all three matchups with Washington in the OKC.