Thunder-Wizards Preview

By JORDAN GARRETSON
Posted Jan 21 2015 12:35AM

The Washington Wizards' already strong defense has been even better lately, blending with efficient frontcourt scoring for a formidable combination.

The Oklahoma City Thunder finally showed the ability to win a low-scoring game and could find itself in a similar contest Wednesday night when they visit the stout Wizards.

Washington (29-13), five games back of streaking Atlanta for first place in the Southeast Division and Eastern Conference, ranks in the league's top third in defensive field-goal percentage (44.0) and points allowed (96.9). The Wizards have held opponents to 93.6 points per game on 41.8 percent shooting while winning seven of nine.

They limited Philadelphia to 32.9 percent shooting in a 111-74 victory on Monday, their largest win of 2014-15. Washington's already efficient offense - shooting 47.6 percent on the season - has clicked at 50.5 percent over the last four games and shot a season-best 55.6 percent against the 76ers.

Big men Marcin Gortat, Nene and Kevin Seraphin combined for 46 points on 20-of-27 shooting. All three have been extremely reliable lately, with Gortat shooting 69.0 percent over his last seven games, Nene at 55.2 percent over his last 12 and Seraphin connecting on 72.5 percent over his last six.

The Wizards have made 69.4 percent of their attempts inside of five feet over the last four games. Gortat is at 72.5 percent on the season.

Washington has also averaged a plus-6.4 rebounding margin over its last nine games after previously being plus-2.1 on the season.

"They were just smaller guys over there, not really experienced and John (Wall) was distributing the ball really well," Gortat said of Monday's performance. "We were just using opportunities."

Oklahoma City (21-20) has posted the fifth-best record in the NBA since Nov. 26, going 18-8 after a 3-12 start. It climbed over .500 for the first time with Tuesday's 94-86 win in Miami.

"We have to keep pushing," said Kevin Durant, who was 0 for 8 from 3-point range but had eight rebounds and eight assists. "We're not worried about it. We didn't come in here and rejoice because we're over .500."

The Thunder had been 0-13 when scoring fewer than 96 points, but again made a living off turnovers, converting 21 Heat mishaps into 22 points. They're forcing an average of 17.4 turnovers - up from 13.6 - and scoring 19.6 points per game off of them while winning four of five.

"Our defense sparked a lot of our offense," Russell Westbrook, who averages a league-best 6.3 fast-break points, told the team's official website. "It gave us some extra opportunities to get out on the break, get to the line and get some fast break points."

Durant's 30.2 career scoring average versus Washington is his third-highest against any team. He scored 34 points on 12-of-18 shooting in a 109-102 home win over Washington on Jan. 2. The Gortat-Hilario-Seraphin trio was limited to 20 on 10-of-21 shooting.

Oklahoma City's Reggie Jackson, a 43.1 percent shooter this season, is shooting 55.7 percent over his last eight road games.

The Wizards have won nine of the last 11 meetings in Washington.

KD2DC game yields Thunder win, 105-103 over Wizards in OT

By JOSEPH WHITE
Posted Jan 22 2015 12:32AM

WASHINGTON (AP) As well as the Washington Wizards have been playing lately, they got a reminder Wednesday night why there's such a clamor for Kevin Durant to play in D.C.

Durant greeted the latest KD2DC craze with 34 points, and he and Russell Westbrook scored all 13 of their team's points in overtime as the Oklahoma City Thunder topped the Wizards 105-103.

Westbrook took an inbounds pass and drove for a surprisingly uncontested layup with 0.8 seconds left in the extra period for the winning bucket. He finished with 32 points as the Thunder won their fourth straight and stayed above .500.

But this night was all about the District-born Durant, whose 2016 free agency has been circled in red by Wizards fans for more than a year. His annual homecoming game has morphed into a recruiting effort. "KD2DC" T-shirts and signs have become popular items, and he was shown wearing a photoshopped "Washington" jersey on the replay screen during a weather update in the fourth quarter.

The arena - which was sold out for only the fifth time this season - erupted in cheers when Durant was introduced with the starting lineups. Durant had to get 91 tickets for the game to satisfy his family and friends, and he has tried his best to ignore the noise about a decision that is still more than a year away.

"I tried not to let that overshadow it, being home in front of my friends and family," Durant said. "You only get this opportunity once (a year). I was just happy I got to play in front of them, and seeing my brother courtside, and all my family, it was cool to get a win in front of them. ... Everybody was here, so I tried to focus on them and not worry about all that other stuff."

Durant broke out of a career-worst 0-for-14 slump from 3-point range by making four from long range after halftime, and he had an impressive throw-down dunk on Marcin Gortat in overtime. Westbrook led a third-quarter comeback that made up a 12-point halftime deficit as the Thunder improved to 19-8 after a 3-12 start. They moved above .500 for the first time this season Tuesday night with a win over the Miami Heat.

"Let's be honest," Gortat said. "I mean, we just didn't stop Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. They're pretty good."

Nene scored 24 points for the Wizards, including nine of Washington's 11 points in overtime. John Wall had 28 points and 13 assists. Bradley Beal scored 14 and took the blame for losing track of Westbrook on the game-winning basket.

"I got caught ball-watching," Beal said.

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MORE ON KD2DC

Asked before the game about the support he receives from the D.C. fans, Durant said: "It's cool. It's cool." Then came a long pause and a smile before a final: "It's cool."

"I love playing for Oklahoma City, man," he added a few minutes later. "It's just a certain level of pride that I have when I play with that Oklahoma City on my chest. That's the only thing I focus on."

WHAT'S THE CALL?

One can go for weeks without seeing a lane violation in the NBA, but this game had two in 66 seconds. The Thunder and Wizards each were caught cheating on a free-throw attempt early in the second quarter.

TIP INS

Thunder: Steven Adams had a career-high 20 rebounds. ... Oklahoma City missed its first 11 3-point attempts. ... Durant needed 100 tickets for last year's game in D.C. Asked about the nine who dropped from his list, he laughed and said: "I'm going to keep that internal."

Wizards: Paul Pierce had a season-high 12 rebounds. ... Washington lost for the first time when leading after three quarters. The team has been 16-0 when leading going into the fourth.

UP NEXT

Thunder: visit Hawks on Friday.

Wizards: visit Trail Blazers on Saturday.

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Follow Joseph White on Twitter: http://twitter.com/JGWhiteAP

• Thunder: Jerrett, McGary
• Wizards: Blair

• Thunder: Westbrook
• Wizards: Gooden

• Lead Changes: 9
• Times Tied: 13

• Arena: Verizon Center, Washington, DC
• Officials: #9 Derrick Stafford, #68 Marat Kogut, #42 Eric Lewis
• Attendance: 20356
• Duration: 2:47