Kevin Durant, Thunder remain sizzling from Hornets - By: Fred Vargas

The Oklahoma City Thunder have finished a stretch of beating up on the NBA's weaker teams. Now the Western Conference leaders will get to see what they can do on the road.

The trip also will take the Thunder to Los Angeles to face the Clippers and to Dallas for a matchup with the defending champion Mavericks.

The victory improved the Thunder to 15-3, the finest record in the West, regardless of an off evening from guard Russell Westbrook and 21 turnovers.

Oklahoma City led during, including by as a lot of as 14 in the 1st half. The Hornets pulled to 83-81 with 9:07 left in the game, but Westbrook hit back-to-back shots and the Hornets in no way got closer than 4 the rest of the way.

"Just too numerous turnovers," Thunder coach Scott Brooks stated. "Do not know. It really is not like we never work on it. It really is occurring, and we have to proper it. We controlled the boards, and the turnovers were a large part of the game. We have to do a considerably superior career with the ball."

"I was just proud of the fight we had," Jack stated. "Playing in this making is not simple."

The Thunder led 60-51 at the break following shooting 60.six percent in the opening half.

"The 2nd half they scored 41," Hornets coach Monty Williams explained. "We just had the tale of two halves. The turnovers just hurt us in the second half."

"Some shots fell for him," Brooks mentioned. "You just hold playing. You're not going to always perform very good basketball. You have to maintain your concentrate, and in the fourth quarter, the game turned all around for him."

The Thunder's 15-3 commence ties for the second greatest in franchise background by way of 18 games. The 1982-83 and 2004-05 teams in Seattle also were 15-three. The 1993-94 Seattle team began 16-2. ... The Thunder forced 5 turnovers in the fourth quarter. ... Hornets F Trevor Ariza was just 1-for-eight and had two factors. He had scored in double figures his earlier four video games just before Wednesday night, such as 18 Monday against San Antonio. ... Jack missed all a few of his field aim attempts in the fourth quarter. ... New Orleans F Xavier Henry played for the first time this season and had three factors on one-for-5 shooting. ... Harden had 6 assists for Oklahoma City.

About the Author

Curtis B Hubbard works as a fervent sports publisher. Curtis in addition works as a sports statistician for several data collection services in the sports field. Mr. Hubbard lives with his wife and 2 small children in the greater Oklahoma City, OK area. Search for more posts by Mr Hubbard here: Kevin Durant, Thunder continue to be incredibly hot against Hornets

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