(SportsNetwork.com) - The Atlanta Hawks have been tested on their six-game western jaunt, which comes to an end Friday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Eastern Conference-leading Hawks are 3-2 on the trek and sustained a 114-95 loss at Golden State on Wednesday in a highly touted matchup with the Warriors. DeMarre Carroll and Paul Millsap scored 16 points apiece and Jeff Teague added 12 for Atlanta, which made only 35.6 percent from the field.
Golden State sank 14-of-30 3-pointers and made 52.4 percent of its shots.
"Any time you're playing teams with the better records in the league, you're going to be tested, you're going to be challenged," Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said. "And you kind of want to rise to that. You want to meet that test. Tonight wasn't our best showing."
Atlanta had won three in a row and 10 of its previous 12 games, and is 23-11 on the road. The Hawks are 10 games ahead of Cleveland for the top spot in the conference and will host San Antonio Sunday afternoon.
Oklahoma City is clinging to the eighth spot in the West - one game ahead of New Orleans - and will resume a four-game homestand Friday.
The Thunder opened the residency on a high note, recording a 122-118 victory over Boston on Wednesday behind another superb effort from Russell Westbrook. The All-Star Game MVP recorded 36 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and five steals, but had seven of OKC's 17 turnovers.
"He changed the game around with his defense and his passing," Thunder head coach Scott Brooks said. "That's what special players do. Every night, you're not going to make shots. You have to be able to pass and defend. He did a great job tonight."
Westbrook, who scored 15 points in a 40-point third quarter, is averaging 35.0 points, 10.4 rebounds and 10.3 assists over his last 10 games.
Enes Kanter had 22 points and 10 rebounds, Anthony Morrow added 20 points and Steven Adams chipped in 14 to go along with 13 rebounds in the win for Oklahoma City, which is 15-6 in its last 21 games and 24-9 at home.
The Thunder will also host Miami and the LA Lakers on this homestand. In injury news for OKC, Kanter is questionable Friday night with an ankle and hand issue.
Atlanta defeated Oklahoma City at home, 103-93, on Jan. 23 and was paced by Millsap's 22 points and 10 rebounds. Westbrook countered with 22 points and 11 assists, as the Thunder had their three-game win streak in this series stopped.
OKC is still 7-3 in the past 10 matchups between the teams.
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