There will be no rest for the weary when the Oklahoma City Thunder get back to work on a quick turnaround Friday night against the Portland Trail Blazers in the finale of a three-game road trip.
The Thunder just defeated the Golden State Warriors, 116-97, Thursday behind a total team effort led by Kevin Durant's 31 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Kevin Martin and Russell Westbrook scored 23 and 18 points, respectively, for the Thunder, who shot 50.6 percent for the game.
"I loved the team effort; everything was about the team," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "We were just playing good defense ... offensively we were moving the ball."
Oklahoma City had 30 assists and received 17 points, seven rebounds and three blocks from Serge Ibaka.
The Thunder have won four in a row on the road and are 25-15 as the visitor this season, They have won eight of 10 games overall and own a one-half game lead over the San Antonio Spurs for the West's top seed. The Spurs will host the Sacramento Kings Friday.
OKC is also closing in on a third straight Northwest Division title, sitting 3 1/2 games ahead of the Denver Nuggets with three to play. The Nuggets, who won the season series with OKC (3-1), have four games remaining and will visit the Dallas Mavericks Friday.
"We knew what we were playing for," Durant said after beating the Warriors. "We know every game is important. So we were locked in from the beginning. That's what we need to do."
After visiting the Blazers, Oklahoma City will close the regular season with two straight home games versus the Kings and Milwaukee Bucks.
Portland will most likely run a depleted lineup out to the floor versus the Thunder since LaMarcus Aldridge (illness), J.J. Hickson (back) and Wesley Matthews (ankle) could possible miss Friday's game.
The Trail Blazers are playing out the string and have lost nine in a row, including Wednesday's 113-106 loss to Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant scorched the Blazers for 47 points, while rookie Damian Lillard led the hosts with a career-high 38 points.
Bryant was impressed with Portland's rookie sensation, who leads all first- year players in points (19.1) and assists (6.5).
"(Lillard's) spectacular," Bryant said. "He's got the moves, patience, intelligence, (and) the balance on his jumpers. He has the whole package."
Aldridge notched a double-double with 17 points and 16 rebounds for the Blazers, who are 0-4 on a five-game homestand and winless in the last six at the Rose Garden.
Portland will start a two-game trek Sunday against the Nuggets and Clippers, and has dropped the first three meetings of the season with the Thunder. Oklahoma City has won six straight and nine of the last 11 meetings with the Trail Blazers, who have lost four of five at home to OKC.
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