West Coast Swing for Thunder

Originally Published: Feb 10, 2011 6:53 PM CDT

Steve McGehee
Oklahoma Sports Mobile Journalist

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma City Thunder’s recent overtime loss to Memphis did not have a lasting effect .Head Coach Scott Brooks was very encouraged by Thursday’s practice, the last before they leave for the West Coast on Friday.

The energy level was high, the guys competed,” said Brooks. I thought the guys were pretty good, they got better today, I can look each player in the eye and say they’ve improved.”

Oklahoma City's (33-18) first stop will be at Sacramento (12-37) Saturday night. Tyreke Evans leads the Kings in scoring averaging more than 18 points a game. Beno Udrih joins Evans in the backcourt, giving Sacramento a formidable duo from the guard position.

“They have two guards that are crafty and they get into the paint and create a lot of havoc,” said Brooks.

Brooks is making sure his players don’t take the Kings for granted; it would be easy to if you look at their record. A dozen in the win column, but the Kings could easily have a much better total, losing 20 games by seven points or less this season.

TheThunderwill play back-to-back games out west, Oklahoma City will play at Golden State Sunday, before coming home to play Sacramento February 15.