The AP reports: Returning again to the city where his NBA career got started, Chris Paul drove the lane for a layup with 2.7 seconds left to lift the New Orleans Hornets to a 100-98 victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night… David West led the Hornets with 37 points and 13 rebounds, while Paul finished with 21 points and eight assists in the team’s first game since trading starting center Tyson Chandler to the Thunder earlier in the day for veterans Joe Smith and Chris Wilcox, plus second-round pick DeVon Hardin… Jeff Green added 24 points and Westbrook scored 12 points for Oklahoma City.
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NBA to borrow $175 million
The Sports Business Journal (Daniel Kaplan and John Lombardo) reports: The NBA is set to borrow $175 million Feb. 26, marking one of the first league financings since the implosion of the credit markets last fall. The money, which will be available to 15 teams, supplements an existing $1.7 billion leaguewide credit facility that uses the NBA’s media contracts as collateral to secure loans for the clubs. The NBA surveyed its teams, and 15 responded they would like to tap into the new borrowing. While the league said it is pleased to borrow in an extremely illiquid credit market, the deal came at a cost, with interest rates up to 8.27 percent, hammering home the notion that the era of cheap money in sports is over. The 15 teams can use the money for any purpose, but covering operating losses may be high on the list.
InsideHoops.com editor says: Loan me three fiddy. I want some ribs.
Thunder get Tyson Chandler from Hornets
The Oklahoman (Darnell Mayberry) reports (via blog): The Thunder has acquired center Tyson Chandler from New Orleans in exchange for Chris Wilcox and Joe Smith, according to a league source with knowledge of the negotiations. The Thunder will also include the draft rights to Devon Hardin, the 50th overall pick in the 2008 draft.
UPDATE: The trade has officially happened. More info here.
Roy scores 22, Blazers beat Thunder 106-92
The AP reports: Brandon Roy scored 22 points and Travis Outlaw came off the bench with 21, leading the Portland Trail Blazers to a 106-92 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Greg Oden had 16 points and 10 rebounds for his rookie-leading 16th double-double of the season. Russell Westbrook had 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Thunder, while Kevin Durant had 20 points in another display of the top two picks in the 2007 NBA draft—this time with a very different result.
Bryant reaches 23,000, Lakers beat Thunder 105-98
The AP reports: Kobe Bryant showed no lingering effects from the flu, scoring 34 points and becoming the youngest player in NBA history to reach 23,000 in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 105-98 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night. Pau Gasol had 22 points and 14 rebounds, and Lamar Odom had 12 points and a season-high 18 boards for the Lakers, just back from a 6-0 trip they concluded with wins against Boston and Cleveland… Kevin Durant finished with 31 points, his fifth 30-point game in a row, and 10 rebounds in the loss. Russell Westbrook had 17 points and nine rebounds.
OKC Thunder mascot will be a bison
The Oklahoman (Mike Baldwin) reports: Sources have confirmed a Bison will be the Thunder’s mascot, which will be unveiled at halftime of the Feb. 17 home game against New Orleans in the Ford Center. The name of the mascot remains uncertain, but the costume design has been completed.
Durant scores 39, Thunder beat Kings 116-113
The AP reports: The Oklahoma City Thunder got caught up in Sacramento’s fast-paced style of play and just barely escaped with a victory. Kevin Durant scored 39 points—his fourth-straight game with 30 or more— as the Thunder held off the Sacramento Kings for a 116-113 victory Sunday night after blowing a 19-point second-quarter lead… Beno Udrih finished with 29 points, and John Salmons and Kevin Martin had 23 each for the Kings, who finished the night shooting 55 percent from the field and 67 percent (12-of-18) from 3-point range.
Kings beat Thunder in OT to end eight-game skid
The AP reports: Kevin Martin scored 37 points on his 26th birthday and the Sacramento Kings beat Oklahoma City 122-118 in overtime, ending an eight-game losing streak… Bobby Jackson had six of his 11 points in overtime for Sacramento, which held a players-only meeting on Saturday. The veteran guard put the Kings ahead for good with a floater in the lane and followed with a jumper to make it 120-116 with 1:42 left… Russell Westbrook had a career-high 34 points and added eight assists for the Thunder, who had six wins in their previous 10 games. Kevin Durant scored 33, Jeff Green had 28 points and 13 rebounds, and Nick Collison added 10 points and 14 boards… Francisco Garcia had 17 points, and Jason Thompson scored 15.
Williams scores 24 to get Jazz over Thunder 110-90
The AP reports: Deron Williams had 24 points and 12 assists and the Utah Jazz snapped a four-game losing streak with a 110-90 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night… Mehmet Okur scored 20 points and Paul Millsap added 16 points, nine rebounds and tied a career high with seven assists for the Jazz, who capitalized on the Thunder’s 24 turnovers. Kevin Durant had 29 points and 10 rebounds and Russell Westbrook had 20 points but the Thunder couldn’t rally after falling behind in the second quarter.
Desmond Mason out for season
Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Sam Presti announced today that guard Desmond Mason will miss the remainder of the season after hyper extending his right knee.
“We are disappointed to lose Desmond for the remainder of the season,” said Presti. “He is a valuable part of our efforts on and off the court. We will support Desmond and work with him throughout the rehabilitation process. Unfortunately, the timing of the injury does not allow Desmond to return this season.”
Mason suffered a hyper extended right knee at 4:02 in the third quarter of last night’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies. He underwent an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) exam this morning that revealed bruising to his right femur and tibia. Team physicians will perform arthroscopic surgery to remove debris caused by the hyper extension.
The Oklahoma State product appeared in 39 games (19 starts) for the Thunder this season. He averaged 7.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 27.3 minutes per contest.
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