Both the Brooklyn Nets and Oklahoma City Thunder are in need of a win. The Nets are in the middle of a five-game losing streak. The Thunder have the worst record in the Western Conference while losing four games in a row. These two teams met up to start the season with the Nets getting the 116-85 win, but with both teams struggling, this matchup is anyone's to win.
The Thunder continue to play without Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, causing others to step up in their place. Durant still has no timetable for his return to the court while Westbrook could be out at least two more weeks. They are fresh off a loss to the Denver Nuggets despite shooting 45.6 percent. They were averaging just 78.3 points in the previous three games. That momentum could help against the Nets.
The reason for the increased production is improvement from Serge Ibaka and Reggie Jackson. Ibaka had 22 points and 13 rebounds after totaling 16 points and 12 rebounds in the previous two games. Jackson is slowly shaking off his funk, averaging 19.8 points per game.
The Nets are trending downward. They are giving up an average of 106.6 points to their opponents while shooting just 24.7 percent from beyond the arc. Brook Lopez is coming off a season-high 26 points against the Milwaukee Bucks. He and Alan Anderson are making a good tandem. Anderson had 18 points against the Thunder earlier in the year while going scoreless in the past three games.
The Nets need more defensive help outside of the two big men. Mason Plumlee and Kevin Garnett are not playing consistently as Joe Johnson stresses the team needs to do a better job of figuring out how to win games.
"We've got to find some ways somehow to get a win," Johnson said, via ESPN.com. "When you're in a rut like this, it's tough. You've got to do all the little things. When you do get that win, it won't be certainly easy."
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