(Sports Network) - The Oklahoma City Thunder will look to log their longest
winning streak in nearly three years on Sunday evening as they play host to
the Indiana Pacers.
The Thunder have won their past seven games to match their longest winning
streak of last season. They haven't won eight straight since a nine-game run
from Jan. 29-Feb. 21, 2010.
Oklahoma City began a five-game homestand on Friday by knocking off the Los
Angeles Lakers 114-108, with Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant combining for
69 points.
Westbrook scored 27 of his 33 points in a first half that saw him drain a
career-high five 3-pointers. He also handed out eight assists with just two
turnovers, while Durant totaled 36 points and nine rebounds.
The Lakers actually led 27-26 at the end of the first quarter before the
Thunder erupted for 41 points in the second quarter, with Westbrook and Durant
dropping 14 points each in the frame.
"That was a solid win. We had some very good stretches, but then in the second
half we had some not so good stretches. We relaxed some on defense in the
second half," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said.
Serge Ibaka and Nick Collison donated 14 and 13 points, respectively, for the
Thunder, who shot 49 percent from the field and 9-of-17 from 3-point range to
improve to 10-2 at home this season.
The Pacers, meanwhile, hope to rebound after suffering a 92-89 setback to the
visiting Denver Nuggets on Friday. Indiana had a two-game win streak come to
an end and lost for the second time in six games despite having all of its
starters reach double figures.
Paul George had 22 points, David West ended with 18 and 11 rebounds and George
Hill donated 15 points and 10 assists. Hill also missed a game-tying 3-point
attempt at the buzzer, drawing some contact but not getting the call.
"We didn't make the plays at the end of the game that we needed," Hill said.
"We have to get in the lab and learn from it."
Indiana would also do well to study last season's 103-98 home win over
Oklahoma City in the lone meeting between the clubs. Roy Hibbert had a double-
double for the Pacers with 21 points and 12 rebounds as the club survived
despite Durant logging 44 points.
Durant had 17 in the fourth quarter, but Oklahoma City could not overcome a
24-point second-half deficit.
Indiana has lost two of its three trips to Oklahoma City and six of its last
seven as the visitor overall in this series.
The Sports Network