Vitals: Thunder at Knicks

Everything you need to know when Oklahoma City visits the Garden.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 11:30 am

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Feb 20, 2010 4:1 PM CDT

Vitals | Recap | Box Score

Gerald Goodridge
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

Oklahoma City Thunder (31-21) at New York Knicks (19-34)
Saturday, February 20, 2010, 6:30 p.m. CST.
Madison Square Garden, Oklahoma City
Game 53 of 82

Anticipated Starting Lineups

	Oklahoma City	New York
PG	Russell Westbrook 16.0 PPG, 7.5 APG	Chris Duhon 7.7 PPG, 6.2 APG
SG	Thabo Sefolosha 5.9 PPG, 5.1 RPG	Tracy McGrady 3.2 PPG, 1.0 APG
SF	Kevin Durant 29.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG	Wilson Chandler 15.6 PPG, 5.3 RPG
PF	Jeff Green 14.5 PPG, 6.0 APG	Danilo Gallinari 14.3 PPG, 5.2 RPG
C	Nenad Krstic 8.0 PPG, 4.8 RPG	David Lee 20.1 PPG, 11.5 RPG

Injuries
Oklahoma City: G/F, Kyle Weaver (shoulder, out); DJ White (thumb, out).
New York: C Eddy Curry (knee, out); G J.R. Giddens (knee, out).

Where to find it?
On TV: Fox Sports Oklahoma
On Radio: Thunder Radio Network

What you need to know?

Oklahoma City is riding an NBA best eight-game win streak, which has lifted them back into the Western Conference playoff picture. The Thunder has averaged 102 points per game over the last seven games while holding opponents to 92 points per game. By the time Oklahoma City is done with the current three-game road trip, it could have nine-straight wins.

New York has lost four straight games, but just acquired the oft-injured Tracy McGrady and 3-point specialist Eddie House via trade. Neither of these players will help the Knicks improve in the area they need it most: defensively. The Knicks are giving up 104.1 points per game, the sixth worst in the league, while only scoring 101.2 points per game.

Who to watch?

Kevin Durant continues to prove why he is now regarded as one of the best in the league, and with an even 25 points against the Mavericks sits one game behind Allen Iverson for the second-longest streak of games with 25 or more points. Russell Westbrook will have a size and speed advantage over New York’s Chris Duhon.

McGrady will be making his first start in a Knicks uniform as he tries to resurrect a once promising career and will have his hands full trying to make plays against the tough defense of Thabo Sefolosha. Center David Lee could also put up big numbers against the Thunder’s Nenad Krstic.