Thunder at Raptors
The Oklahoma City Thunder plan to give Russell Westbrook a game of rest for every back-to-back they play for the remainder of the season — so it's no surprise that the star point guard was held out against Cleveland in order to be fresh for Friday's game in Toronto. Westbrook wasn't needed Thursday, as Kevin Durant scored 35 points and had 11 rebounds in the Thunder's 102-95 win. Durant has scored 25 or more points in 33 straight games, the longest streak since 1987.
Durant is nearing Michael Jordan's NBA-record 40 straight games of 25 or more, but he'll face one of the biggest challenges to the streak Friday night. The Raptors boast one of the best defenses in the NBA, a unit that has helped them overcome a sluggish start to the season and put them in great position to secure home-court advantage in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Toronto is looking to build off a come-from-behind win in New Orleans on Wednesday.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSOK (Oklahoma City), SNET (Toronto)
ABOUT THE THUNDER (50-18): Though Westbrook may not get back to 100 percent this season as he continues a long recovery from knee surgery, he has shown flashes of brilliance in limited minutes since returning to the lineup. He recorded a triple-double in just 20 minutes in a win over Philadelphia on March 4, followed that up with 36 points in 30 minutes against Phoenix two nights later and racked up 29 points and nine assists in 23 minutes in a March 13 triumph over the Lakers. Westbrook is averaging 23.6 points, 8.7 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 26.9 minutes in March.
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (38-29): Much has been made of how Toronto point guard Kyle Lowry has become one of the best at his position in the entire Eastern Conference — but few were aware of just how that transformation took place. Yahoo! Sports basketball writer Adrian Wojnarowski profiled Lowry earlier this week, recalling a story in which Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri explained to Lowry that his attitude problems would leave him out millions of dollars in the long run. "To grow, you've got to be able to accept coaching," he told Wojnarowski. "You've got to be able to be coached."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Toronto prevailed 104-98 in their first meeting Dec. 22 in Oklahoma City, ending a three-game skid in the series.
2. Westbrook averages 18 points and seven assists in 10 career games versus the Raptors.
3. Toronto C Jonas Valanciunas is considered questionable with a back sprain.