vs. 
OKC Thunder (37-22, 16-13 road) at Atlanta Hawks (37-24, 18-9 home)
TV: FSOK (Cox 37, HD 722, Tulsa Cox 27, DirectTV 679, UVerse 754)
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 6:30 CT
Offensive Rating: Thunder – 110.3 (6th), Hawks– 106.6 (18th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 107.9 (16th), Hawks – 105.6 (13th)
Pace: Thunder – 93.1 (12th), Hawks – 89.7 (26th)
View from the enemy: Hoopinion
Note: Kevin Durant is a game-time decision. He was upgraded from doubtful. He says he’s ready to go but it’s up to the medical staff. He participated in shootaround and didn’t have any setbacks. So it’s possible, but I’m sure the team is going to err on the side of caution.
Oklahoma City rolls into Atlanta after getting back on the good side of things against the Pacers. But there’s no room to pat yourself on the back. The Hawks are playing well and are a legit Eastern Conference playoff team, currently sitting fifth in the East. With or without KD, this won’t be easy.
Atlanta coming in: The Hawks have won three of four including a big win over the Bulls Wednesday.
THE MATCHUPS
The Hawks are dealing with injury issues of their own as Josh Smith won’t play tonight. Atlanta will play Josh Powell a lot to replace him, but might start Jamal Crawford and move Marvin Williams to power forward as well.
After trading Mike Bibby, the Hawks have become a stronger defensive team with Kirk Hinrich. He’ll have his hands full with Russell Westbrook though, who might be required to carry the load depending on Kevin Durant’s availability.
OKC matches up a lot better than usual with Al Horford inside with Nazr Mohammed and Serge Ibaka. The Thunder should fare well on the boards but the issue tonight will be scoring if KD is out. James Harden will slide into the starting lineup and will have to assert himself as the go-to scorer along Westbrook. OKC will lose something on the bench as Eric Maynor will have to play well. Ironically, here’s a game where Nate Robinson would’ve came in handy.
Obviously stopping Joe Johnson will be key as Harden and Thabo Sefolosha will draw the assignment. He’s Atlanta’s primary scoring option alongside Crawford and Horford, so limiting his looks is important.
The Hawks are a good Eastern team and but one the Thunder has played well against the past few seasons. If OKC is shorthanded it’ll be tough but we’ve seen Westbrook carry teams before and he might have another shot tonight.
Tip at 6:30 CT. Go Healthy Thunder.
4razr :@DJ
R7
See what it’s like to have an offense that can REALLY spread the floor?
lol i know right!!! we're getting there.
Every time I watch Gary Neal play, I become more impressed with him. What a find for Pop
@DJ R7
See what it's like to have an offense that can REALLY spread the floor?
@Sammy
That's what I thought too.....2-4 wks....he was the catalyst to that whole first quarter too
TP's already back? I thought he was supposed to be out longer.
Matt Bonner killed us twice by 3Pts.
I half expect Pat Riley to come out in the second half as the coach and act as if nothing happened.
Watching the Heat get beat is almost as good as sex
Matt Bonner - "the guy the call the red rocket"
He's nicknamed after a dog's wiener?
Is anyone scared of the heat right now?
At this point it doesn't look like they will have to worry about late game execution.
Anyone think we win this game without KD:) Heck to the nah
HEX YEAH SPURS KILLING THE WEAK!!! I MEAN HEAT!!
Whoever is guarding Matt Bonner probably deserves a pay cut.
Matt Bonner is just stupid right now
Every one in the world knew that Matt Bonner three was going in.
this is reminding me of the beginning of our pacers game the other day...
Geez...any chance Riley fires Spoelstra right now and takes over the rest of the game?
I thought Parker was out for 2-4 wks, what happened?
Pretty good game tonight... KD did show any bad effect from his ankle injury and had a VERY GOOD game. 5 assists, 8 rebounds and only 2 turnovers.
One thing I wasn't too keen on is, RW was 8 assists in the first half (which was great) but only 1 in the 2nd half and only looking for his shots. I know RW is keen on keeping his stats and stuffs, but that's just not a good for the team imo. FG 11/23, and only had one assist in the 2nd half... Not the best options...
Damn Spurs are destroying the Heat:)
Holy hell. San Antonio looks amazing
@clarkem
Five of Green's eight FGM were assisted by Rondo.
I, personally, love Matt Bonner.
Except when he's playing against us.
Ozarkhick :
Krstic +14
Green -9
This is pretty much a trend now.
8-11 FT 5-5
3-5
Yes
Ozarkhick :
Krstic +14
Green -9
This is pretty much a trend now.
lets not forget getting outrebounded by PG's.
every time i get to see the heat lose a game, i get the same feeling as watching the yankees lose a world series.
Ozarkhick :
Krstic +14
Green -9
This is pretty much a trend now.
Give green a break. Krstic is playing with Rondo Allen Pierce and Garnett. Green definitely is not.
SA ripping a new one into the Heat already
Man Matt Bonner is just silly consistent at the three.
Sammy :
What is it about Cleveland that gives NYK so much trouble? Also: NO-MEM close in the fourth.
i wonder who we want to win this. Maybe Mem.
justin :
Are we really in the position to complain about other team’s announcers?
dude, that play by play for ATL made me appreciate brian davis, but only slightly...
Krstic +14
Green -9
This is pretty much a trend now.
justin :
Are we really in the position to complain about other team’s announcers?
I feel like we have a unique opportunity to know just how bad announcers can be. I don't think anyone here is complaining about the announcers because we feel like ours are great.
Dang. Cavs beat the Knicks.
What is it about Cleveland that gives NYK so much trouble? Also: NO-MEM close in the fourth.
James Church :
GREEN GOT A REBOUND!!!!!!
And 21 pt.
@CenOK
I think part of it is that Brooks usually changes his lineup to what the other team is doing. ATL went small, so we go small. I don't necessarily mind Brooks being defensive, but I wish he was more proactive in creating mismatches for the other team to figure out
Hah. Baron Davis with the dagger three. Cleveland might beat NY again.
Green in clutch time for Boston
Are we really in the position to complain about other team's announcers?
@nick
They weren't homers for most of the game. When Hinrich slid under durant to draw that one blocking foul Nique' corrected himself and said that was a legit blocking foul. That basically never happens.
And I didn't think Nique really wanted to rail on Russ, he just had to because the play by play wouldn't let it go.
Watching the end of the Boston game. Heinsohn is the worst.
at least we're not yelling at the TV, or cursing it out because the games went to a last shot. You know what games im talking about pretty much 99% of all the ones Pre-Trade. This game was actually closed out by free throws.
CenOK :
james hardens beard :
CenOK :
Great win guys. Bad lineups Brooks.
are you like me and are only satisfied with 10+ point wins? ha
Hahaha no I really am satisfied with that win. It’s just that I think about Brooks playing some of those lineups come playoff time and it scares me.
yeah, although obviously a win is a win, i hate games where we're up to like 30, then let them score like 15-20 in garbage time. i like a statement victory here and there...
justin :
Harden’s averaging more than Green did in less minutes the past six or seven games on much higher efficiency. Plus he’s better defensively.
Not to mention the Celtics are getting embarrassed on the offensive glass.
@Lefty
About Russ? When he did the pistol celebration thing after his 3 they called him out for showboating, then when he missed the next 3 they said he deserved it for showboating earlier. Then when he went to the line later they called him "Mr. Humble" and started complaining about when we played them earlier in OKC and Russ got his triple double with the shot clock off.
GREEN GOT A REBOUND!!!!!!
james hardens beard :
CenOK :
Great win guys. Bad lineups Brooks.
are you like me and are only satisfied with 10+ point wins? ha
Hahaha no I really am satisfied with that win. It's just that I think about Brooks playing some of those lineups come playoff time and it scares me.
Harden's averaging more than Green did in less minutes the past six or seven games on much higher efficiency. Plus he's better defensively.
Cpt. C-note :@Ozarkhick
ROCK LOBSTER!!
I've got me Chrysler, ith ath big ath a whay-el, and ith about to set thail to Newcastle!!!!!!1
i dont think russ would have been "showboating" had hinrich not clearly said something that pissed russ off...
That does it. nice win guys. I just Josh "I think he bit me" Smith was plAying in this one.