The AP reports: Rookie Brook Lopez scored a career-high 31 points and pulled down 13 rebounds to lead the Nets to a 103-99 overtime win on Monday. The Nets believed they had already won this one in regulation. Vince Carter caught a pass from Devin Harris and had the winning basket lined up with 9 seconds left, a shot that caught nothing but net from 3-point range. To the shock of everyone on the floor, the score was wiped out because Nets coach Lawrence Frank had run onto the court to call a time out… Carter finished with 21 points while Harris, back after missing three of the previous four games with a hamstring injury, had 17 points. Keyon Dooling had 14 points, most coming early in the fourth quarter as the Nets earned a fourth straight home win after starting the season 5-12 in New Jersey. Kevin Durant had 26 points for the Thunder, who fell to 6-33, and 2-17 on the road.
Category: OKC Thunder Blog
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Thunder pull out 109-98 OT win over Bulls
The AP reports: Kevin Durant scored 28 points, Nick Collison added a season-high 21, and the Oklahoma City Thunder rallied to beat the Chicago Bulls 109-98 in overtime Saturday night… Trailing by seven midway through the fourth quarter, Oklahoma City had a chance to win it at the end of regulation. But with the score tied at 94, Durant a missed jumper from the top of the key, and Russell Westbrook missed a tip-in try… Chicago got 22 points from Ben Gordon, and 20 from Drew Gooden, who also had 12 rebounds. That gave him three straight double-doubles after missing eight games with a sprained ankle.
McGrady’s 28 lifts Rockets past Thunder 98-96
The AP reports: After losing three straight games to start a long road trip, the Houston Rockets are grateful for any road win—even a narrow one over the team with the NBA’s worst record. The Rockets blew a 15-point second-half lead, but Tracy McGrady capped a 26-point outing with two critical free throws with 8.2 seconds left as they edged the Oklahoma City Thunder 98-96 on Friday night… Houston’s Yao Ming struggled much of the game, not making his first basket until early in the third quarter, missing a dunk later in that quarter and committing two offensive fouls in the fourth quarter. The 7-foot-6 center finished 3-of-10 from the field and scored 14 points—well below his 19.8-point average—but nine of those came in the final 4:22… Russell Westbrook scored 15 points for Oklahoma City.
Foye, Wolves keep rolling over Thunder, win 129-87
The AP reports: Randy Foye matched his career high with 32 points in just three quarters and the Wolves won their fourth straight game, beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 129-87 on Wednesday night. “It’s just great to be talking about these wins,” said Foye, who also had six assists in the second most lopsided victory in franchise history… Al Jefferson added 21 points and 13 rebounds for Minnesota, which has won six of its last eight after that demoralizing 13-game skid dropped them to 4-23 on Dec. 23… Russell Westbrook had 16 points and a career-high 12 assists for Oklahoma City, which was overwhelmed in every phase of the game… Kevin Durant, who entered the night leading the Thunder in scoring at 23.9 points per game, scored a season-low nine points on just 3-of-13 shooting, the first time all season he’s been held under 12 points.
Nuggets trade Chucky Atkins to Thunder for Johan Petro
Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Sam Presti announced today that the team has acquired guard Chucky Atkins, a 2009 first round draft pick and cash considerations from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for center Johan Petro and the Thunder’s 2009 second round draft pick.
“We are excited to add Chucky to our team,” said Presti. “He brings a wealth of experience and a great work ethic to our program. We feel that he is someone who can bring an additional level of veteran leadership to the Thunder.”
Atkins (5-11/160), a nine-year NBA veteran, has played in 637 NBA games with seven teams averaging 10.4 points, 3.6 assists and 1.8 rebounds per contest. He has appeared in 14 games for the Denver Nuggets this season averaging 1.9 points and 2.0 rebounds in 8.2 minutes per game.
The Orlando, Florida native went undrafted in the 1996 NBA draft despite averaging 14.6 points, 4.7 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game in four seasons at the University of South Florida. Atkins spent one season with the La Crosse Bobcats of the Continental Basketball Association and two seasons with Cibona Zagreb of the Croatian Basketball League before entering the NBA
Atkins, who appeared in all 82 games for the Orlando Magic as an NBA rookie during the 1999-2000 season, averaged 9.5 points and 3.7 assists on his way to being named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. He had his best statistical year in 2004-05 as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers when he averaged 13.6 points, 4.4 assists and 2.4 rebounds in 35 minutes per contest.
Petro, 7-0, 247, has averaged 4.6 ppg and 4.3 rpg in 15.5 mpg in 22 contests (12 starts) with Oklahoma City this season.
A native of Paris, France, Petro was the 25th overall selection in the 2005 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics and has posted career averages of 5.7 ppg and 4.5 rpg in 243 games over his three-plus seasons with the Oklahoma City franchise.
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Durant, Green lift Thunder to rare win over Knicks
The AP reports: Wins have been rare this season for the Thunder, so they wanted to celebrate after holding off the New York Knicks 107-99 on Tuesday night—after nearly blowing a 23-point, second-half lead. “We showed a lot of character,” said Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant, who had 27 points and 12 rebounds… Jeff Green added 27 points for Oklahoma City (5-30), which shot 52.7 percent from the field and won for the second time in three games… Al Harrington scored 21 points and Chris Duhon added 18 for the Knicks (13-20), who were coming off a victory over defending NBA champion Boston. New York, which beat the Thunder by 10 points on Nov. 14, shot 39.8 percent. Russell Westbrook added 22 points and nine assists for Oklahoma City. David Lee had 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Knicks, his 20th double-double in the last 22 games and his 23rd of the season.
New nickname for Nenad Krstic
The Oklahoman (Darnell Mayberry) reports: Nenad Krstic is officially a member of the Thunder after having his work visa approved Monday. And with a new team comes a new nickname. Krstic, the 7-foot center who was signed Dec. 30, is no longer affectionately referred to as “Curly” as he was during his four seasons with the New Jersey Nets. Thunder players have taken to the nickname “Krispy.” While the nickname is more of a play off Krstic’s last name, it could carry a double meaning for how crisp Krstic has been in his first week of practice. “He’s looking good,” Desmond Mason said of Krstic, who could make his Thunder debut tonight against the New York Knicks.
DJ White jaw surgery, out 12-16 weeks
Oklahoma City Thunder forward DJ White underwent successful surgery on his jaw, it was announced by the team.
Team physicians performed the second and final procedure on Sunday, January 4 at Integris Baptist Hospital. White underwent initial surgery on October 13 to remove a benign growth from his jaw.
Team officials expect White to miss the next 12-16 weeks following the surgery.
White, who was acquired by the Thunder as a part of a draft day trade, has yet to appear in a game this season.
Thunder picking mascot
The Oklahoman (Mike Baldwin) reports: When the Thunder unveils its new mascot after the All-Star break, the yet-to-be-named character will tightrope a rail in Loud City, drop from the Ford Center ceiling and trampoline to the rim with the dunk team. “We want the mascot to be athletic and very mobile but also be a character that’s part of photo ops and interaction,” said Brian Byrnes, vice president of ticket sales and services. “It’s above and beyond what the character does at our games.” … “Once we choose the character, there are a ton of minor details,” Byrnes said. “How big are the eye holes? How big are his hands and feet? What’s the weight of the costume, his depth perception? What type of material do we use to make sure he’s athletic? It’s all part of the process.”
Thunder top Warriors for 4th victory of the season, 107-100
The AP reports: The Thunder pulled away in the third quarter and held on for a 107-100 victory over the Golden State Warriors. It was only the fourth win of the season for Oklahoma City, which snapped a five-game losing streak… Jeff Green scored 18 of his 26 points in the second half. Oklahoma City turned 20 Golden State turnovers into 24 points, many coming off of steals. Green pointed to the team’s intensity in the second half as the difference in the game… Kevin Durant posted his fifth double-double of the season with 25 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, and reserve Chris Wilcox had 23 points and nine boards… Kelenna Azubuike had all of his season-high 24 points in the second half to lead the Warriors. Stephen Jackson had 17 points on 5-of-16 shooting and the Warriors were beaten on the boards 45-35.