Thunder at Hornets
The Oklahoma City Thunder attempt to start a new winning streak when they visit the New Orleans Hornets on Friday. The Thunder had a five-game winning streak snapped by the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday for their first double-digit loss of the campaign. Oklahoma City will be playing its seventh game in 11 days. New Orleans is trying to find a rhythm as overall top pick Anthony Davis just returned to the lineup and guard Eric Gordon remains sidelined.
Davis had just eight points on 2-of-7 shooting in New Orleans’ 100-96 loss to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. The forward has had two 20-point games in the four he has played and missed two others with a concussion. The Hornets don’t expect for Gordon (knee) to return until mid-December. Oklahoma City will be playing its 10th game and enters the contest with a 2-1 road mark.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Oklahoma (Oklahoma City), Fox Sports New Orleans
ABOUT THE THUNDER (6-3): Kevin Durant topped 30 points for the first time this season with a 34-point, 10-rebound effort against the Grizzlies. Durant hadn’t scored more than 26 points entering the contest. He didn’t even take 20 shots in any of Oklahoma City’s first seven games, but has attempted 22 and 21 in the last two outings. Durant is shooting 49.4 percent, an increase from his career accuracy rate of 46.8.
ABOUT THE HORNETS (3-3): Third-year guard Greivis Vasquez had one of his best outings as a pro with a career-high 24 points to go with nine assists in the loss to Houston. He did tweak his left ankle in the contest but is expected to be fine. Vasquez is averaging 12.3 points and 8.8 assists but is shooting just 35.1 percent. He made just 4 of 23 shots in a two-game span before hitting 8 of 15 against the Rockets.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Oklahoma City won all three meetings last season and has won five of six overall.
2. Durant is averaging 27.6 points in 16 career games against New Orleans.
3. Houston became the first team to reach 100 against the Hornets, who are allowing an average of 89.5 points.