SB Nation Kansas City - Thunder Vs. Wizards: OKC Falls In Washington 105-102 Despite 36 Points From Russell Westbrookhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48935/kc-fave.png2012-01-18T20:44:42-06:00http://kansascity.sbnation.com/rss/stream/24806032012-01-18T20:44:42-06:002012-01-18T20:44:42-06:00Thunder Vs. Wizards Final Score: Washington Pulls Upset, Defeats OKC 105-102
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<p>For a moment it looked like Oklahoma City was going to be able to extend the game long enough to pull off a comeback however, <span>Kevin Durant's</span> desperation shot to tie hit back iron giving Washington an improbable 105-102 victory. </p>
<p>Washington could have put the game away in the final moments at the free throw line but three misses and a foul on a Kevin Durant three-point attempt kept the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Thunder</a> in the game. The loss spoils a big night by <span>Russell Westbrook</span> who finished with 36 points, five rebounds and seven assists. Kevin Durant added 33 points on 11-24 shooting but had an uncharacteristic seven turnovers in the game. <span>James Harden</span> added 13 points off the bench for the Thunder</p>
<p><span>John Wall</span> made up for a 6-17 shooting night by making 13-14 free throw attempts on his way to a team-high 25 points. Wall also finished with seven rebounds and eight assists. <span>Nick Young</span> started the game 0-8 but finished with 24 points including 5-10 shooting from three-point range. <span>Jordan Crawford</span> added 18 points off the bench and <span>Andray Blatche</span> added 12 points and 10 rebounds for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Wizards</a>. </p>
<p>Oklahoma City drops its third game of the season and the loss snaps a seven game winning streak. The Thunder are back in action on Saturday at New Jersey. </p>
<p><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on this game Thunder fans should head on over to <a href="http://www.welcometoloudcity.com/" style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #232e80; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Welcome To Loud City</a> and Wizards fans should check out <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/" style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #232e80; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Bullets Forever</a>. For more NBA news and analysis be sure to visit <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba" style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #232e80; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">SB Nation's NBA page</a>.</i></p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/2012/1/18/2717476/thunder-vs-wizards-2012-final-scoreKris Willis2012-01-18T19:12:45-06:002012-01-18T19:12:45-06:00Thunder Vs. Wizards Score: OKC Takes 51-46 Lead Into Halftime
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Oklahoma City Thunder</a> got 18 first-half points from <span>Russell Westbrook</span> and take a 51-46 lead into halftime over a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Washington Wizards</a> club that played pretty well in the first half. The Wizards are 1-12 this season but actually took the lead late in the second quarter before the Thunder charged back in front. </p>
<p>Westbrook scored his 18 points on 8-12 shooting and also handed out five assists in the first half. <span>Kevin Durant</span> hit 6-12 field goal attempts and finished with 14 points but had an uncharacteristic five turnovers in the first half. <span>James Harden</span> pitched in eight points off the bench in the first half. </p>
<p><span>John Wall</span> leads the Wizards with 12 points and three assists in the first half. <span>Jordan Crawford</span> came off the bench to score 10 first-half points on 3-5 shooting. </p>
<p><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on this game Thunder fans should head on over to <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #232e80; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Welcome To Loud City</a> and Wizards fans should check out <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #232e80; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/">Bullets Forever</a>. For more NBA news and analysis be sure to visit <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #232e80; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba">SB Nation's NBA page</a>.</i></p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/2012/1/18/2717416/thunder-vs-wizards-2012-scoreKris Willis2012-01-18T16:48:26-06:002012-01-18T16:48:26-06:00NBA MVP Power Rankings: James Harden Is Playing Phenomenal Ball, And Kevin Durant's Pretty Good Too
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<p>The Oklahoma City Thunder have overcame a lot thus far early in the season, but their 12-2 start this season can be attributed in large part to the play of Kevin Durant and James Harden. </p> <p>The Oklahoma City are 12-2 on the season and have already dealt with a myriad of issues. The early struggles of <span>Russell Westbrook</span>, backup point guard <span>Eric Maynor</span> going down for the season with a torn ACL and the struggles to get <span>Serge Ibaka</span> flowing offensively have all been issues to point at for <span>Scott Brooks</span>' team. Yet...they're 12-2. Still tough to complain.</p>
<p>While <span>Kevin Durant</span> has been nothing short of his usual, consistently phenomenal self, the play of <span>James Harden</span> has begun to raise eyebrows across the league. Harden's play has caused some to compare him to the second-coming of a Manu Ginobli.</p>
<p>That person would be Tom Ziller, as he's put both Durant and Harden in his latest MVP Rankings this Wednesday:</p>
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<td><b>2.</b></td>
<td><b><a href="../../nba/players/24285/kevin-durant" class="sbn-auto-link">Kevin Durant</a></b></td>
<td><b><a href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Thunder</a></b></td>
<td><b>25.7 points on .595 TS%, 6.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists</b></td>
<td><b>--</b></td>
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<td colspan="5">Durant is playing as well as he ever has, which is saying something. The scorer's points are down as he attempts to play a more complete floor game -- that's where the 3.5 assists, up 30 percent over last season, come from -- but he remains the efficient leader for a great Oklahoma City attack.</td>
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</tbody></table>
<p>Thoughts on Harden at No. 9:</p>
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<td><b>9.</b></td>
<td><b><a href="../../nba/players/71903/james-harden" class="sbn-auto-link">James Harden</a></b></td>
<td><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Thunder</a></b></td>
<td><b>17.8 points on .663 TS%, 4.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists</b></td>
<td><b>--</b></td>
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<td colspan="5">Harden won't likely stay on this list for long, but geez. He's scoring almost 18 points per game on 10 field goal attempts ... plus he's defending, rebounding and making plays for others as a de-facto backup point guard. He is basically a young, healthy <a href="../../nba/players/21775/manu-ginobili" class="sbn-auto-link">Manu Ginobili</a> right now. Just an absolute joy to watch.</td>
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</tbody></table>
<p>The Thunder travel to Chocolate City to face the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Washington Wizards</a> tonight at 6 p.m. Central time looking to extend their 7-game winning streak.</p>
<p><b><i>For more on this game Thunder fans should head on over to <a href="http://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Welcome To Loud City</a> and Wizards fans should check out <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/">Bullets Forever</a>. For more NBA news and analysis be sure to visit <a href="../../nba">SB Nation's NBA page</a>. </i></b></p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/thunder/2012/1/18/2717112/nba-mvp-power-rankings-james-harden-kevin-durant-thunderEddie Maisonet2012-01-18T07:01:04-06:002012-01-18T07:01:04-06:00Thunder Vs. Wizards Time, TV, Radio Info And More
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<p>The Oklahoma City Thunder continue their road trip with a stop in the nation's capital to take on John Wall and the Washington Wizards. </p> <p>Oklahoma City will be looking to extend its season-best seven game winning streak when it takes on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Washington Wizards</a> at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Thunder</a> successfully opened a three-game road trip on Monday with a 97-88 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Boston Celtics</a>. Now they shift their attention to a struggling Wizards team that has lost four straight and has won only once this season. </p>
<p><span>Kevin Durant</span> scored 28 points against the Celtics on Monday while <span>Russell Westbrook</span> had 26 including a couple of back-breaking threes down the stretch. </p>
<p>Washington fell to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/">Houston Rockets</a> 114-106 on Monday spoiling a great game from <span>John Wall</span> who finished with 38 points. The Wizards are just 1-12 this season. Washington has lost five consecutive matchups with the Thunder. </p>
<p><b>Game date/time:</b> Wednesday, January 18, 6:00 p.m. CT</p>
<p><b>Location:</b> Verizon Center, Washington, DC</p>
<p><b>TV:</b> FoxSports Oklahoma HD</p>
<p><b>Radio:</b> WWLS 640 AM, 98.1 FM</p>
<p><b>Online Streaming:</b> NBA League Pass Broadband</p>
<p><i>For more on this game Thunder fans should head on over to <a href="http://www.welcometoloudcity.com">Welcome To Loud City</a> and Wizards fans should check out <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/">Bullets Forever</a>. For more NBA news and analysis be sure to visit <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba">SB Nation's NBA page</a>. </i></p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/2012/1/18/2715278/thunder-vs-wizards-time-tv-radio-info-and-moreKris Willis