Thunder at Warriors
THE STORY:
After surviving 111-107 in overtime at Portland on Monday, Oklahoma
City will try to finish the second half of a back-to-back Tuesday at
Golden State. The Thunder got 33 points from Kevin Durant and 28 from
Russell Westbrook and staved off a season-high 39 from Portland’s
LaMarcus Aldridge. The Warriors nearly pulled off a late comeback at
Sacramento on Saturday before falling 114-106 in overtime. Golden
State’s bench got the Warriors to overtime after Sacramento led 87-76
entering the fourth. Nate Robinson had 20 points. Klay Thompson scored a
career-high 16 points for the Warriors, including 12 in the fourth, and
made a tying 3-pointer with nine seconds remaining. “Our bench was
incredible. The effort was outstanding,” first-year Warriors coach Mark
Jackson said. “I look forward to the day where I'm not a coach standing
over there thinking: ‘Do I stick with these guys or do I get my starters
back in the game.’ ” The Warriors need to find a way to rebound better.
In a 120-109 loss to Oklahoma City on Jan. 27, the Warriors were
outrebounded 53-34 and the Kings outrebounded them 55-36.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, FS Oklahoma (Thunder), CS Bay Area (Warriors)
ABOUT THE THUNDER (19-5): Starting center Kendrick Perkins is taking
heat on several fronts, the latest for his lack of rebounding. He
averages 5.4, third on the team, but that is his lowest since averaging
5.2 during the 2006-07 season. “I just got to play better,” Perkins told
Oklahoma reporters. “It’s not just the rebounding. My points are down.
I’m usually one of the league leaders in field goal percentage. I just
got to play better.” After grabbing only four total rebounds in the
previous two games, he had 10 against Portland, his best rebounding game
since taking a season-high 13 against Memphis on Jan. 10.
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (8-13):
Golden State is still searching for that elusive three-game winning
streak. After the reserves helped the Warriors battle back and force
overtime, the Warriors missed their first seven shots, three by Stephen
Curry and two by Monta Ellis. “It's got to sting, and we've got to find a
way to make the proper adjustments,” Jackson said. “We've been playing
great, and this was a great opportunity to come here and get a 'W.' We
didn't finish.”
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Golden State has posted a 12-4 record over the past 16 games at home against Oklahoma City.
2.
Stephen Curry has averaged 24.5 points in eight games against the
Thunder on .56.1 percent shooting, both his best marks against any
Western Conference opponent.
3. The Thunder recalled forward
Ryan Reid from the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League. Reid had
surgery for a broken nose last month.