While a lot of playoff bound NBA teams will be resting their starters tonight, or at least limiting their minutes, the Thunder can't afford that luxury if they want to secure the #2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
"A lot of people put an emphasis on seeding but we just wanna play our best basketball at the right time," Thunder superstar Kevin Durant told reporters today after shootaround. "But you also do wanna have a Game 7 on your home court."
Read MoreThe Oklahoma City Thunder got an important win last night but even more important to the upcoming playoff run is that the team appears to be healthy again.
Thunder defensive whiz Thabo Sefolosha returned to the lineup for the first time in more than a month and Kendrick Perkins was out there playing too and the Thunder beat Sacramento 107-92 thanks to a 21-2 run from late in the third quarter to early in the fourth that was fueled by stout defense.
Read MoreThe Thunder won't make a big deal of it publically but there's no question they're looking forward to having another crack at the Dallas Mavericks.
The Mavs afterall embarrassed the Thunder on their home floor just days ago, handing the Thunder their worst home loss since the 2010-11 season and one of their worst ever.
Read MoreThunder point guard Russell Westbrook told reporters after his team’s practice today, “I feel great,” putting to rest any fears of problems after banging knees with Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry Friday night.
“I actually felt great after the game, but we had to make sure that everything was good.”
Read MoreNothing like flying out of winter straight into summer and that's just what the Oklahoma City Thunder are doing today.
It will be 40 to 45 degrees warmer in Phoenix when the team lands than in Oklahoma City when their charter flight takes off.
Read MoreThe Philadelphia 76ers may have lost 14 straight and 24 of their last 27 but Thunder superstar Kevin Durant and his teammates aren't taking tonight's opponent for granted.
"We know they've got a bunch of guys looking to make a name for themselves in this league and they're gonna play extremely hard," Durant told reporters after shootaround.
Read MoreVeteran NBA swingman Caron Butler went through his first Thunder practice today and declared himself ready to play Tuesday night against Philadelphia if his number (2 by the way) is called.
"I'll be happy to go in and do whatever I can," Butler said
Thunder officials aren't commenting on reports the team has reached a tentative deal to bring in forward Caron Butler.
Butler reached an agreement on a contract buyout with Milwaukee yesterday and won't clear waivers until 4 p.m. Saturday. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reported the deal with the Thunder earlier today.
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