Tip-Off: 7 PM CT

Location: Chesapeake Energy Arena (Oklahoma City, OK)

Television: FSOK

Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal

Twitter: Follow @TheThunderGuys for live-tweets during the game

December 7, 2017, was a rough day for the Oklahoma City Thunder and fans alike. The Thunder played an international game against the Brooklyn Nets in Mexico City, Mexico, and despite missing Paul George and Jerami Grant to injuries at the time, Oklahoma City was expected to win with ease. Brooklyn had other plans, however, and the Nets were able to steal the win 100-95.

Since then, however, the Thunder has been on a different path. That loss was a turning point of sorts, and after sitting at 11-13 on the season, Oklahoma City has gone 15-7 over the last month and a half to improve to 26-20. The Thunder have not sorted out all of their issues, but they have made vast improvements, especially on the offensive end, and they are moving closer and closer to a place in the top-half of the Western Conference playoff standings.

Brooklyn has gone the other way, and the Nets have won only eight of their last 23 games, and right now, they are nowhere near a playoff spots in the East. Just like the December 7th matchup, Oklahoma City is heavily favored to win this game, and coming off of back-to-back 24-point victories, the Thunder should be able to get an easy win in front of the home crowd.

Projected Starters

Thunder

• PG: Russell Westbrook
• SG: Andre Roberson
• SF: Paul George
• PF: Carmelo Anthony
• C: Steven Adams

Nets

• PG: Spencer Dinwiddie
• SG: Allen Crabbe
• SF: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
• PF: Demarre Carroll
• C: Tyler Zeller

Injuries

Thunder

• None

Nets

• Jeremy Lin (ruptured patella tendon, right knee) is OUT.

Head-to-Head

• Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 11-7 against the Nets (5-3 at home, 6-4 on the road).
• Oklahoma City is 0-1 against Brooklyn so far this season.
• In nine seasons, the Thunder has won the season series with the Nets four times, lost it once, and tied four times.
• After winning seven of the first eight matchups against Brooklyn starting in the 2008-09 season, the Thunder has gone 4-6 against the Nets since.
• Steven Adams grabbed a season-high tying nine offensive rebounds against the Nets on December 7, 2017 in Mexico City, Mexico.
• Oklahoma City shot 12/23 (52.2%) from the free throw line, one of the worst performances from the charity stripe all season long for the Thunder.

Game Notes

• Oklahoma City has won four games in a row, which is the longest active win streak in the NBA, while Brooklyn has won two in a row.
• Oklahoma City is 6-4 in the last 10 games, while Brooklyn is 4-6.
• Oklahoma City is 16-7 at home, while Brooklyn is 8-14 on the road.
• Oklahoma City is 11-7 against the Eastern Conference, while Brooklyn is 6-12 against the Western Conference.
• Oklahoma City is 6-3 in games coming off two days of rest, while Brooklyn is 11-14 coming off one day of rest.

Be sure to tune in at 5:30 PM CT for our latest episode of “Thunder Things with the Thunder Guys.”

Article written by Zack Low. Follow @TheThunderGuys on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook.