Thunder at Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets began a nine-game home winning streak against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Jan. 20 and look to stretch it 10 when they host Oklahoma City again on Friday. Denver is a formidable 24-3 at home and also is on an offensive roll by averaging 112.4 points over its last 17 games. Oklahoma City has won three straight games and its defense has allowed an average of 73 points over the last two games.
The Thunder have clicked on all cylinders the past two games with routs of the Chicago Bulls (102-72) and New Orleans Hornets (119-74). Oklahoma City has had recent troubles on the road, losing four of their last five to drop to 16-11 away from home. Denver has won 14 of its last 15 home games and is a much more confident squad when playing at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets notched a 111-109 road win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday and have won three consecutive contests.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, Fox Sports Oklahoma, Altitude (Denver)
ABOUT THE THUNDER (42-15): Forward Kevin Durant posted his third triple-double of his career when he had 18 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in Wednesday’s rout of the Hornets. Durant has two triple-doubles in four games, a startling development since he didn’t have a single triple-double over his first five NBA seasons. Only injured Boston point guard Rajon Rondo (five) has more triple-doubles this season. “When you get a triple-double, people think it’s just about the guy that gets it,” Durant said. “Your teammates make so many great plays to put you in position to do that. So, it’s not just me.” Durant averages 28.6 points.
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (37-22): Point guard Ty Lawson continued the best scoring stretch of his career with 30 points in the victory over the Trail Blazers. Lawson has strung together eight consecutive 20-point outings and is averaging 26.1 points during the span. Lawson has scored 20 or more in 15 of the past 21 games since mid-January. He is averaging 16.6 points and 7.1 assists. Forward Danilo Gallinari averages a team-leading 16.9 points and is questionable after missing the previous two games with a thigh bruise. Wilson Chandler has started the two games Gallinari has missed, scoring 23 in Monday’s victory over the Los Angeles Lakers but just seven against Portland.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The teams have split two meetings this season with both teams winning at home.
2. Denver G Andre Iguodala matched his season high with 29 points against Portland, but is averaging just 10.5 points in this season’s two meetings with the Thunder.
3. Oklahoma City had a 48-25 rebounding edge over New Orleans for its largest margin of the season.