Pelicans at Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder aim to finish play before the All-Star break
with their 16th win in the last 19 games when they host the New Orleans
Pelicans on Thursday. The Thunder have been flying under the radar but a
victory over New Orleans would make them one of three teams with 40
wins at the All-Star break.
Oklahoma City All-Star small forward Kevin Durant has scored 20 or more points in 38 consecutive games and is averaging 36.3 points over the past three contests. All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook has scored 24 or more points in seven of the past eight games and had 43 points, nine rebounds and eight assists when the Thunder recorded a 110-103 victory over the Pelicans on Nov. 18. New Orleans has posted back-to-back wins over the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Utah Jazz as it hopes to remain in the Western Conference playoff chase. All-Star power forward Anthony Davis scored 19 points in Wednesday's 100-96 victory over the Jazz, failing to reach 20 points for only the second time in the past 14 games.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE PELICANS (20-32): Point guard Tyreke Evans missed his eighth straight game because of his troublesome right knee and the lack of progress has prompted him to seek a second opinion. Evans underwent surgery on the knee in late October but the latest setbacks may have him facing a season-ending procedure. "There is a possibility that it's something that could keep him out the rest of the season," New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry told reporters. "We won't know that until the opinions are gathered and the information is processed and then the decision will be made."
ABOUT THE THUNDER (39-14): Durant scored 32 points in Monday's 122-106 victory over the Phoenix Suns and his 20-point streak was in jeopardy of ending until he scored 21 points over the final 14:17. "Sometimes it only takes one shot for me, sometimes it doesn't even take a shot," Durant told reporters. "I'm just always in a mode where I feel confident every shot I put up." Oklahoma City ranks second in the NBA in scoring at 109.9 points per game and has topped 100 points in 22 of the past 23 games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Durant and Davis missed the first meeting because of injuries.
2. New Orleans backup PG Jrue Holiday scored 21 points against Utah for his sixth 20-point outing in the past nine games.
3. Oklahoma City backup C Enes Kanter has three double-doubles over the past six games and is averaging 16.2 points and 8.8 rebounds during the stretch.