NBA West: Lakers On Three-Game Skid, Oklahoma City vs. Washington Wizards Preview
After 17 straight wins, the calendar flipped to 2013 and the Los Angeles Clippers (27-8) saw their streak end. They suffered two consecutive losses last week, but rallied by week’s end including a close Friday victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, 107-102.
For the Oklahoma City Thunder (26-7), they continue to sit ahead of the Clippers and lead the Western Conference. They’re currently on a two-game win streak and on Sunday, they defeated the Toronto Raptors (12-22) 104-92. Russell Westbrook led the team in scoring with 23 points; Kevin Durant added 22 points and his teammates scored in double digits: Serge Ibaka (19 points and eight rebounds) and Kevin Martin (16 points).
The Thunder will now hit the road for 11 of their next 13 games. On Monday, they’ll play the Washington Wizards (4-28) and there’s a short preview below.
The team currently has the league’s best record but will they make it all the way to June as the top team? They’re at +300 to win the NBA Championship.
In other NBA West news, the Los Angeles Lakers (15-18) continue to dominate headlines similar to the New York Jets with all of their drama this season.
Lakers Center Dwight Howard
On Sunday, the Denver Nuggets (20-16) defeated them 112-105. Lakers Dwight Howard tied his career-high 26 rebounds along with 14 points and four blocks but tweaked his injured right rotator cuff; after the game it was wrapped in ice and on Monday he’ll have an MRI.
The Lakers get a day of rest, then have Tuesday and Wednesday games. Howard isn’t the team’s only concern as Pau Gasol left Sunday’s game at the end with a nose laceration; he is expected to play against the Houston Rockets on Tuesday.
The Lakers have now lost three consecutive games and with their current record, sit in 11th place for the Western Conference. There’s a lot of season left but for this team, it’s almost time to go into panic mode.
Expectations had been high for the offseason moves but for now, the Lakers sit at +1200 to win this year’s championship.
Thunder vs. Wizards
Thunder forward Kevin Durant
The Thunder kick off their road trip by playing the the league’s worst team, the Wizards.
On Sunday, the team warmed up against the Raptors and it was an all-team effort. They outscored them 17-9 during transition and in the paint, had a 46-32 advantage. The Thunder had 24 assists.
Coach Scott Brooks said of the win via ESPN, “We just have to keep moving the basketball. We’re good when we force the defense to chase the ball around and the ball finds a good shot. It’s not really who finds it, as long as it’s a good shot. We’ve done that most of the year and we just have to continue to build on those habits.”
The Thunder own the Wizards, winning five straight games against them before snapping their streak almost a year ago on Jan. 18. Durant and Westbrook scored a combined 69 points with Wizards John Wall, who will be absent in Monday’s meeting, led his team with 25 points.
Against the Wizards, Durant averages 31.4 points–his highest against any team. Besides keeping their eye on him and Westbrook, the Wizards will also need to watch out for Martin who also scores well against this team (24.1 points per game)–also his highest vs. opponents.
While the Thunder enter the game at the top, the Wizards are on a 1-13 fall after losing to the Miami Heat on Sunday, 99-71. The teams’ starters had 29 points and went 11 for 44 on shooting. Reserves Kevin Seraphin and Cartier Martin scored a combined 27 points.
One of the team’s weak spots is playing back-to-back games, notably the second game. They have an 0-9 record in these with an 86.2 point-average, giving them a league-worst mark.
The team’s slump will continue in their second game as the winning nod goes to the Thunder on Monday (-10.5, 193 o/u).
