Nuggets at Thunder
THE STORY: The Oklahoma City Thunder have the best record in the Western Conference and haven’t lost at home since falling to the Portland Trail Blazers on Jan. 3. Oklahoma City is 11-1 at home as it plays the second contest of a five-game homestand against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday. The Thunder expect to have Russell Westbrook available despite the star guard tweaking his right ankle in Friday’s victory over the Golden State Warriors. Denver has lost nine of its last 12 games since starting 14-5.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN, Altitude (Denver), Fox Sports Oklahoma
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (17-14): Injuries have led to more playing time for first-round pick Kenneth Faried, who recorded his first career double-double in Friday’s 103-102 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Faried had a career-high 18 points on 9-of-15 shooting for his third consecutive double-digit scoring outing. Faried only appeared in three games before February. He will continue to get solid minutes while Nene is out of the lineup and is displaying that he is deserving of more playing time.
ABOUT THE THUNDER (23-7): Westbrook has never missed a game in four NBA seasons and expressed Saturday that he plans to play. He didn’t return to Friday’s game after hurting the ankle in the third quarter. Westbrook isn’t the only Oklahoma City starter who is ailing. Center Kendrick Perkins (knee) sat out Friday’s game and guard Thabo Sefolosha (foot) has missed 12 consecutive contests and could be sidelined for another month. Westbrook is averaging 22.6 points as part of the stellar twosome with forward Kevin Durant (26.8).
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Oklahoma City won three of four against Denver last season.
2. Durant averaged 31.5 points with a high game of 44 against the Nuggets last season and is averaging 28.6 points in 15 career meetings.
3. Denver’s Nene will miss his fourth consecutive game with a left calf strain.