NETS GAMENIGHT: #Thunder @ #Nets

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Updated: January 31, 2014

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (37-10) @ BROOKLYN NETS  (20-23)

Barclays Center 8:00

TV: YES/ESPN – RADIO: WFAN 660/101.9FM

[quote_simple]NETS STARTERS
The starting lineup tonight will be  Shaun Livingston playing alongside Alan Anderson in the backcourt with Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce up front and the man in the middle Kevin Garnett.

Brooklyn s coming off a devastating loss in the final minute to the Toronto Raptors 104-103 on Monday and have had three days to think about the collapse.

It was not pretty but the Nets hope to overcome the mishaps with a solid performance against the leagues top team in Oklahoma City with the league hottest player in Kevin Durant.

The last time these two teams met it was a magical night with Joe Johnson sinking a game-winner over an outstretched Serge Ibaka to beat the Thunder for the second time in two years in their building.

[box]Injury News: AK47 has a sore calf

Andrei Kirilenko went for an MRI on his sore right calf and it came back negative so he will be listed as questionable for tonight’s game.  He did practice yesterday with a sleeve on that calf so it will be a game-time decision.

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THUNDER STARTERS

The Thunder starting lineup will be Reggie Jackson and Thabo Sefalosha in the backcourt with Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka and  Kendrick Perkins playing in the frontcourt.

Kevin Durant, who is the NBA’s leading scorer at 31.3 points per game, is averaging 36.6 points per game on 53.9% shooting since Jan. 1 and his streak of 12 straight games with at least 30 points matches the league’s best since 2002.

The Thunder have won none straight games coming into tonight and are looking for some revenge for the Nets loss at home.

Jackson has been putting up nice numbers since he has started for the injured Russell Westbrook and the Thunder haven’t skipped a beat and the team just keeps winning.

Slowing down Durant should be the focus tonight for Brooklyn but there are plenty of options for this Thunder team right now.

[quote_simple][box]Game Notes:

Brooklyn has posted seven months in their NBA history with 11 or more wins.

Nets looking for their fourth straight victory over a Western Conference opponent.

The Nets are 7-2 in the front end of a back-to-back set this season.

Thunder team is 8-0 away from home versus East opponents.

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[box]WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Getting off the mat

The Nets just simply did not execute ion the final minute on Monday and in doing so lost a heart breaker to a division rival and lost ground in the standings as well.

Brooklyn will have to pick itself up off the mat tonight and make sure they are ready to take on the leagues hottest team with their MVP candidate on fire and show everyone that they can lose a tough game and still bounce back.

This will be a good test of the internal will of this Nets team to see if they can forget about the past and look forward without any problems.  This game will tell a lot about them and if they can compete come playoff time.

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[box]INJURY REPORT

NETS

Andrei Kirilenko – questionable (strained right calf)

Brook Lopez  – OUT (ankle)

THUNDER

Russell Westbrook  – OUT (right knee)

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