Wizards at Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are winners of three straight after earning a rare victory in Portland on Friday and continue to hang out among the leaders in the Western Conference. The Thunder will try to make it four consecutive wins when they begin a four-game homestand by hosting the Washington Wizards on Sunday.
Oklahoma City won in Portland for the first time since 2014 with Friday's 111-109 triumph as Paul George and Russell Westbrook led the way. "I thought about that yesterday when I landed," Westbrook told reporters of the losing streak at the Trail Blazers. "Hell yeah. So, it's a personal thing for me." Westbrook plays with an edge that seems to make every game a personal thing and will find the motivation against the Wizards, who are 4-17 on the road while suffering through a disappointing season. Washington opened its three-game trip with a 115-109 setback at Miami on Friday to stretch its road losing streak to eight in a row.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBCS Washington-plus, FS Oklahoma
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (15-24): Shooting guard Bradley Beal continues to step up since All-Star point guard John Wall (heel) was ruled out for the remainder of the season and kept Washington in the game on Friday with 33 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. "We could've made some more shots," Beal told reporters. "Definitely down the stretch we missed some easy ones. I think we did enough to win the game. I think effort wise, defensively, rebounding, we did a good job of (limiting their offensive rebounds) as much as possible." Tomas Satoransky is starting at point guard in place of Wall and struggled at Miami with eight points, three assists and a pair of turnovers in 33 minutes.
ABOUT THE THUNDER (25-13): Westbrook managed a triple-double in a win at the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday but was just 3-of-20 from the floor as his jump shot consistency remains at work in progress. The former MVP was better on Friday with 31 points on 13-of-28 shooting and flirted with another triple-double at nine rebounds and seven assists. "He tried to get downhill and he made some really good passes and got some guys some shots," Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan told reporters of Westbrook. "He got his areas a few times and made some of those shots. I think he did some good things."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Wizards SF Otto Porter Jr. is 1-of-8 from 3-point range in two games since returning from a 10-game absence due to a knee injury.
2. George is averaging 33 points in four games since returning from a quad injury.
3. Oklahoma City earned a 134-111 victory at Washington on Nov. 2 behind 23 points and 12 assists from Westbrook.