vs. 
OKC Thunder (32-8, 13-5 road) at Denver Nuggets (24-18, 15-3 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: 7:00 CT
Offensive Rating: Thunder – 113.0 (1st), Nuggets– 108.3 (8th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 103.0 (6th), Nuggets – 105.9 (15th)
Pace: Thunder – 92.6 (8th), Nuggets – 94.1 (5th)
View from the enemy: Roundball Mining Company
A couple things working against the Thunder tonight: 1) The Nuggets are very good at home and 2) the Nuggets are probably still a little unhappy about the whipping OKC put on them a few days ago. In looking over this six-game road trip, this one in Denver kind of looked like a potential swing game to me. A 2-0 start could really put 5-1 or for sure 4-2 in play. A loss makes a successful trip much more challenging.
These two teams just played four days ago and the Thunder basically bumrushed a tired Nuggets team coming off a game the night before. OKC worked Denver in pretty much every way that night, but didn’t seem to get much credit for it because of the Nuggets’ situation. Tonight, the teams are on a little more even playing field, except again, the Nuggets are at home where again, they are very good.
Also, sidenote: Thoughts and prayers to Scott Brooks and his family as his mother Lee passed away. He’ll coach tonight against Denver.
Denver coming in: The Nuggets have lost two straight, including Friday at home to the Wizards.
Three Big Things
1. Good start necessary. Good energy and a productive first quarter could go a long way in this game. You could say that about pretty much every game, but in this case playing on the road against a good divisional rival, taking the crowd out of it a bit would be good.
2. Some balance. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are amazing and can carry the Thunder most any night. And they’ve been doing that lately. But a little more offensive balance with Kevin Martin, Serge Ibaka or the bench stepping up would help relieve some of that stress on Durant and Westbrook.
3. Transition. The Thunder eliminated the drive-and-kick quick transition stuff in the first meeting, not letting the Nuggets explode for short bursts. There weren’t any easy buckets, any big men leaking out after mad baskets. Forcing the Nuggets to execute in the halfcourt favors the Thunder a lot.
Tip at 7:00 CT. Go Rocky Mountain Thunder.
It was a rough lost tonight... I luv the Thunder...... was Die hard Pistons fan and fell in love w/the Thunder Durants first year in the playoffs against the #LAL.. @HasheemTheDream need to watch #TheOriginalDreams tape 24/7 or change his twitter name...... KMart 15pt a game players are a dime a dozen in the NBA. U have no more intangibles. KD, Russ and Ibaka have upped they're ante......... but where did anyone else improve? CHI in it day in and day out w/o they're Franchise player and we hv KD 3time scoring champ and we can't beat DEN w/o a franchise player........ #Goodnight
@DanielLawler you a film student?
@<--A Benz can make me dance yes I am
@DanielLawler @<--A Benz can make me dance in Oklahoma? If so, hit me up on Twitter. Coming down there and need to hire a camera op for something -- @tricia_status
Some of yall real funny tonight. You shouldn't drink on Sundays...
imo the defensive intensity was not there until last half of 4th quarter
Maynor>Reggie
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@MJOKC @OkcBaby He's not confident right now and he plays so few mins tough for him to get acclimated.
http://dailythunder.com/2013/01/denver-picks-off-the-thunder-in-overtime-121-118/
It's a proven strategy. I start griping about KD and go bananas on the team, and KD goes off for 20-25 with 48 pts 8 assits and 12 boards. Just let me overreact. It works
@WojYahooNBA The $525 million price is a "valuation" on the total franchise. For 65 percent, Seattle group would pay approximately $340 million.
KD. We're all tired of you shooting horrible. Can you man up please and start making some shots.
@GervinReincarnated right now he is 51.5/40.4/90.8. last 5 games he has shot 7.6 threes making 2.8 which is 36.8
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@MJOKC @GervinReincarnated on terrible shooting.
@MJOKC on 13 makes. That's what I want him to fix
@MJOKC Make more shots, and we don't need OT both games
you're killing your 50/40/90 bid
wonder if nuggets/jazz switch divisions with kings later sonics?
Taking NBA teams for cities where its they're only pro sport verses cities that have tons of pro stuff is not the same
I'm sad for Sacramento. Seattle has the Seahawks and the Mariners. Sacramento has... what else other than the Kings?
@Old Man Game Are you saying we should send the Thunder to them? IT is what is is. Rich people trading teams like baseball cards.
@ThunderWins NO. Did I say that? How did you read that as me saying that. If anything I sympathize with Sacto because just like them we're a one sport pro team town.
@Old Man Game Maloofs are terrible owners.
@Old Man Game Sorry just tired not everyone can have a team - sympathize but its the Kings management that failed them not the league or the fans
@Old Man Game the kings is the city
@WojYahooNBA Deal struck in principle over weekend of Jan. 5-6, By then, Sacramento mayoral bid to find local group was too late
Peter Vecsey @PeterVecsey1
Source says almost living lock Phil Jackson will become front office face of Seattle-bound Kings' franchise. Won't coach. Will mentor choice
cant wait until russ trolls seattle
@d21 Despite what they want you to think up in the Pac NW, Russ nor KD have no connection to this whole inter-city beef. They think KD is going there in free agency though
@1 Knee 4 Points 5 Rebounds 35 Million Dollars @d21 They're wrong about that.
J.A. Adande @jadande
NBA source says Sacramento Kings sale to Seattle group is signed & sent to league. Maloofs will retain "small piece" of team.
@d21 @jadande crazy stern said they are allowed to counter offer.
@Lost Ones @d21 He's try to save face. Then will turn around and award to Seattle.
@ThunderWins @d21 lol i think they still have a chance not a good one but a chance
@jadande rich people are nuts
@d21 @jadande It better be small or they are doomed.
@jadande and they got 525 mil
Ibaka was 2-6 from the line, and russ 1-7 from deep. God knows how a few of either of those would help
so a kings fan went up to a sonic today...
I'm glad the Sonics are back. The NBA needed another team that doesn't use blue in their color scheme.
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@MJOKC Take that BILL SIMMONS.
miami seems like a good place for chris andersen
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BBEHKpfCcAAuD6l.jpg
KJ has to present a counter offer to the NBA now
Why is Denver hating on Russ so much after tonight.?
@PerkPunt He was trolling them hard it was awesome
@PerkPunt http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-6YXVx9eFEk
@d21 glad he did It.I don't like Denver or its people
@PerkPunt they were getting something for free if he made it
@d21 @PerkPunt Qdobo
I tell ya, at least Seattle is receiving a GOOD team.
@Aren't /sarcasm?
@lethalizer @Aren't Maybe Cousins will grow up as a sonic?
@ThunderWins @lethalizer @Aren't It's unfortunate that most of our youth don't have a strong support sys. I know he's over 18, doesn't mean he's mature or been giving the tools to become mature.