A season-best nine-game win streak will be on the line for the Oklahoma City Thunder when they welcome the streaky Sacramento Kings to town Friday night. Oklahoma City hasn't lost since a 108-100 setback at Boston on Nov. 23 - reeling off nine straight to lay claim to the best record in the NBA - and it has won eight straight at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Thunder have won nine of the past 10 meetings, including all seven home contests since moving to Oklahoma City.
The Kings have lost two straight after alternating three-game losing and winning streaks and they're trying to avoid their fourth string of three or more losses this season. They started their four-game road trip with a win at Portland but have lost at Dallas (119-96) and Milwaukee (98-85) this week. Sacramento is 1-8 on the road.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, CSN California, Fox Sports Oklahoma
ABOUT THE KINGS (7-14): The Kings will have center DeMarcus Cousins back in the lineup after he was suspended for Wednesday's game. Cousins (17.2 points, 9.9 rebounds) is the team's leading scorer and rebounder. Shooting guard Marcus Thornton (13.3 points) might not be back, though, as he is home in Louisiana with his ill mother. Guard Tyreke Evans (15.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists) also has missed time with a sore left knee, but he played 23 minutes off the bench and compiled 17 points and seven rebounds against Milwaukee.
ABOUT THE THUNDER (18-4): Oklahoma City's win streak hasn't been cheap - the Thunder have won their past nine games by an average of 14.9 points. Stars Kevin Durant (27.3 points, 8.5 rebounds) and Russell Westbrook (21.1 points, 8.5 assists) have been terrific during the streak. Durant is averaging 29.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4 assists during that stretch, and Westbrook has added 21.1 points, 8.8 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game. Sixth man Kevin Martin (15.9 points) has been productive off the bench, and Serge Ibaka (14 points, 7.4 rebounds) is making an early bid for Most Improved Player honors.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. With a win, the Thunder would match their longest win streak since moving to Oklahoma City and the longest for the franchise since the Seattle Supersonics won 11 straight in November 1996.
2. The Kings are 1-13 when trailing at the half, 1-13 when trailing after three quarters and 3-13 when scoring fewer than 100 points.
3. Oklahoma City is 10-0 when five or more players score in double figures and 10-0 when shooting 50 percent or better.