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OKC Thunder retain Scott Brooks as head coach

Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced today that the team will retain interim coach Scott Brooks as head coach.

“We are excited to have a Head Coach in Scott Brooks who believes in our philosophies and consistently leads with those values,” said Presti. “He has a passion to help our players develop, continue to foster accountability and selfless play, and has the ability to communicate with every player on our roster.”

Brooks was named interim head coach of the Thunder on November, 22, 2008. The Lathrop, California native guided to the Thunder to a 21-47 (.309) record in his first stint as a head coach.

Brooks spent six years as an NBA assistant coach with the Thunder (2007-2008), Denver Nuggets (2003-2006) and Sacramento Kings (2006-2007) following an 11-year NBA career. Brooks saw action with seven teams during his career. He also served as an assistant/head coach with the Los Angeles Stars of the ABA, guiding the club to a 23-14 record.

Brooks graduated from UC-Irvine, playing two seasons for the Anteaters, where he led the team with 23.8 points per game as a senior.

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Outlaw has 21 in Blazers victory over Thunder

The AP reports: Travis Outlaw had 21 points as a last-minute starter and the Trail Blazers built a 35-point lead before defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 113-83 on Monday night. Brandon Roy had 20 points in Portland’s fifth straight victory. Greg Oden had 16 points and nine rebounds. Kevin Durant, averaging 25.5 points a game, scored just 10 for the Thunder, who have lost six of their last seven games. Rookie Russell Westbrook had 15 points and seven assists.

Russell Westbrook developing

The Oklahoman (Darnell Mayberry) reports on the Thunder: But no matter which direction the front office is leaning on Russell Westbrook, the rookie has shown over the past three games that he’s starting to get it. Only now, after 70-plus games, does Westbrook fully understand what it takes to run an NBA team. Westbrook’s execution still is erratic. But more than ever, he’s slowing down. He’s setting up his teammates first and looking for his shot second. He’s making the simple play rather than the shaky one. Westbrook is averaging a season-high seven assists this month, and his assist-to-turnover ratio stands at 1.91, not great but trailing only January’s 2.03 as his highest ratio in any full month.

Jefferson 35 points leads Bucks over Thunder

The AP reports: Richard Jefferson finished 13-of-21 from the field to tie a season high with 35 points and the Milwaukee Bucks snapped a four-game losing streak with a 115-98 victory over Oklahoma City on Saturday night… Luke Ridnour scored 18 points and Charlie Villanueva added 14 for the Bucks, who have long been eliminated from the postseason race but will finish with a winning record at home (21-19) with one final game at the Bradley Center on Monday against Orlando… “When he’s knocking down his jump shots, there’s nothing you can do about it,” said Kevin Durant, who had 19 points. “We were getting hands up and contesting but they were going in.”

Thunder eliminate Bobcats from playoff chase

The AP reports: Kevin Durant and the Thunder took care of that in the final home game of their inaugural season in Oklahoma City. Durant had 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead three players with double-doubles, and the Thunder knocked the Bobcats out of playoff contention with an 84-81 victory Friday night… Nenad Krstic added 19 points, Jeff Green had 10 points and 11 rebounds, and Russell Westbrook had 10 points and 11 assists for Oklahoma City. D.J. Augustin led the Bobcats with 20 points, including a 3-pointer with 35 seconds left that got Charlotte within 83-81. Green then swatted away a runner by Raymond Felton and Krstic corralled the rebound on the floor with 2.2 seconds left.

Marvin Webster dead at 56

The AP reports: Marvin Webster, a fierce shot-blocking centre who helped lead the Seattle SuperSonics to the 1978 NBA finals, was found dead in a hotel bathtub. He was 56. His body was discovered in his room Monday morning in the downtown Ambassador Hotel, police said yesterday. Foul play is not suspected and the death apparently stemmed from an illness, police spokesman Jason Willingham said. Webster had been living at the hotel and employees grew concerned after not seeing him for several days.

Nuggets eighth straight win, beat Thunder 122-112

The AP reports: Ideally, the Denver Nuggets wanted to jump on the Oklahoma City Thunder early and coast to a win before flying out to Los Angeles for their showdown with the Lakers. Instead, they had to fight like crazy before coming up big in the fourth quarter for a 122-112 win Wednesday night thanks to the usual stars—Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups—and an unusually good finish by Linas Kleiza… Anthony scored 31 points against the Thunder, Nene added 23, Billups chipped in 18, including every one in an 11-2 spurt the Nuggets used to finally get control of the game. Kleiza scored 12 of his 17 in the fourth quarter and Chris Andersen blocked seven shots. The Nuggets needed every bit of that effort to stave off the Thunder, who were led by Kevin Durant’s 31 points and Jeff Green’s 24.

Entire team of game-worn Thunder jerseys up for auction

Thunder fans will have a unique opportunity Friday night to bid on jerseys worn by Thunder players during this historic first season in the Ford Center. The “Jersey Off Our Backs” auction will benefit the Oklahoma City Thunder Community Foundation Fund. Fans are invited to bid on game-worn jerseys from all 15 Thunder players at a silent auction table on the concourse during Friday night’s home finale vs.. Charlotte. The winning bidders will receive their jerseys at the conclusion of the game. Many of the jerseys will actually be worn by Thunder players during that final game.

Bidding for the jerseys will begin when doors open at 5:30 p.m. outside of section 101 on the concourse level of the Ford Center, right outside the Thunder Shop. Bids will be taken throughout the night, ending ten minutes following the conclusion of the game.

Spurs beat Thunder 99-89 in first game without Ginobili

The AP reports: With Manu Ginobili out through the playoffs, Drew Gooden filled in as a temporary member of San Antonio’s Big Three. Gooden scored 20 points for his highest total since joining the team last month, and the Spurs beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 99-89 Tuesday night in their first game since learning an ankle injury would sideline Ginobili for the rest of the season… Tim Duncan had 25 points and 15 rebounds while Tony Parker added 21 points and 10 assists, but it was an unexpected boost off the bench that helped end Oklahoma City’s inexplicable mastery of the Spurs in recent weeks… Kevin Durant led Oklahoma City with 24 points. Jeff Green added 16 points and Thabo Sefolosha had 13 points and nine rebounds.

Granger scores 24, Pacers beat Thunder 117-99

The AP reports: Danny Granger scored 24 points, Troy Murphy added 22 points and nine rebounds, and the Pacers kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a 117-99 win against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night… Roy Hibbert added 17 points, Jarrett Jack scored 14 and Brandon Rush had 13 points for the Pacers as all five starters reached double figures. T.J. Ford also had 12 points off the bench… Kevin Durant led Oklahoma City with 25 points and Nick Collison scored 15. Rookie D.J. White added 14 points in his NBA debut after missing the first five months of the season following jaw surgery.