After a run of six straight games against teams currently in a playoff position or a play-in scenario, the Oklahoma City Thunder should feel a lightening of the load on Wednesday as they take on the Brooklyn Nets. The Thunder kicked off a 5-game East Coast road trip Tuesday night with a 113-108 victory in Orlando against the Magic, and after this second game of a back-to-back, OKC has just one more back-to-back remaining in the season.
Oklahoma City is just 4-7 in the second game of a back-to-back this season, but this one feels like one of their easiest opportunities at a win all season long. The Nets started the season with a 7-game losing streak, and they have had several other lengthy losing streaks, including the 4-game losing streak they’re currently on.
The Thunder and the Nets met a month ago, and despite both teams dealing with injuries, OKC won easily 105-86. Now that the Thunder is closer to full strength, all they have to do is take care of business to get out of town with an easy win.
Game Details
Tip-Off: 6:30 PM CT
Location: Barclays Center (Brooklyn, New York)
Television: FanDuel Sports Network – Oklahoma
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal
Twitter: Follow @ZacharyLowNBA for live tweets and discussion during the game
Game Notes: Oklahoma City Thunder Official Game Notes, Brooklyn Nets Official Game Notes
Thunder
- PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- SG: Ajay Mitchell
- SF: Luguentz Dort
- PF: Chet Holmgren
- C: Isaiah Hartenstein
Nets
- PG: Nolan Traore
- SG: Drake Powell
- SF: Michael Porter Jr.
- PF: Noah Clowney
- C: Nic Claxton
Injury Report
Thunder
- Brooks Barnhizer (G League — two-way) is QUESTIONABLE.
- Branden Carlson (strained lower back) is OUT.
- Luguentz Dort (rest) is OUT.
- Isaiah Hartenstein (left soleus injury management) is OUT.
- Chet Holmgren (left hip contusion) is QUESTIONABLE.
- Thomas Sorber (right ACL surgical recovery) is OUT.
- Nikola Topic (G League — on assignment) is OUT.
- Jalen Williams (strained right hamstring) is OUT.
Nets
- Egor Demin (left plantar fascia injury management) is OUT.
- Terrance Man (left Achilles soreness) is AVAILABLE.
- Michael Porter Jr. (sprained right ankle) is OUT.
- Ben Saraf (left foot soreness) is OUT.
- Day’Ron Sharpe (UCL tear in left thumb) is OUT.
- Nolan Traore (right eye abrasion) is AVAILABLE.
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 22-10 against the Nets (11-5 at home, 11-5 on the road).
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder has won the season series against the Nets 8 times, lost it once, and tied 7 times.
- The Thunder went 2-0 against the Nets last season (1-0 at home, 1-0 on the road).
- OKC is 1-0 against Brooklyn so far this season (1-0 at home, 0-0 on the road).