Thunder vs Suns: Pregame Primer

vs.

Suns (18-15, 11-8 road) vs. Thunder (15-17, 8-7 home)

TV: FS Oklahoma
Stream:  Click here
Radio:  WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 1300 AM The Buzz Tulsa)
Time: 7:00 CT

Offensive Rating: Thunder – 104.5 (21st), Suns – 108.9 (8th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 102.5 (4th), Suns – 107.1 (20th)

A 2-2 stretch over the last four games has the Thunder 2.5 games back of the Phoenix Suns for eight place in the Western Conference. The Suns are coming off a loss last night in New Orleans and will be facing a tough back-to-back against a Thunder team that hasn’t played since Sunday — Oh, and the one they call Kevin Durant is back tonight… Happy New Year, DT.

The Matchup

On Dec. 14 the Suns came to the Peake without guard Goran Dragic. The Thunder took full advantage from the jump — riding a 41 point first quarter to a blowout 112-88 win. Russell Westbrook torched Eric Bledsoe for 28/8/8 with two steals.

Tonight the Suns are at full strength and before last night had won six straight games. A backcourt of Dragic and Bledsoe is one of the best in the league when they’re both healthy. They play fast — 5th in the league in pace — making it vital that the Thunder stays disciplined in transition. For some reason this has consistently plagued the team, whether it’s Westbrook not getting back, or guys just passing off their man for the guy closest to them, you can count on two or three times a game opponents exploiting mismatches in transition that could’ve been avoided with effort.

The Suns have great balance in their offense, especially with second-year Center, Alex Len, getting healthy and becoming a contributor on both ends. Phoenix also has a deep bench led by Isaiah Thomas. Thomas along with Gerald Green, Marcus Morris and Miles Plumlee forces teams to be sharp defensively for 48 minutes.

The Thunder match with a deep and athletic roster of their own, and tonight KD gets back to work after missing six games after spraining his ankle 13 days ago against Golden State. The ankle got plenty of rest, and it was 13 more days of rest for the surgically repaired foot. Brooks says his minutes will be limited to around the mid-30’s.

Durant and Westbrook have both averaged 32 points in their last four meetings against Phoenix — it’s clear the Suns don’t have an answer for these two.

How good was Serge Ibaka against Dallas on Sunday? Good gracious, he was making seemingly everything he looked at and was a point away from tying his career-high of 27. Tonight he and Adams have an opportunity to control the game on the glass, especially against smaller lineups that feature both Morris twins or Tucker at the PF.

Phoenix has lost its last eight meetings in Oklahoma City, and 12 of 14 against the Thunder overall. The Thunder has a chance to make up valuable ground in the standings by extending that streak to nine.

Sunday’s COTN: “KD with the turtleneck swag” -@Julius Wrek

Here’s to KD putting away street clothes for good this season.

PS: Happy New Year, y’all.

Tip at 7:00 CT. Go injury-free 2015.