Last week: Won at Portland 108-96, won at Utah 104-90, lost at Sacramento 94-93, lost at Denver 110-102
This week: Monday vs. Chicago, Wednesday vs. Memphis, Friday vs. Phoenix
The Oklahoma City Thunder got a split on their four-game road trip last week and put themselves in position to get back to the .500 mark this week, with home games against the Bulls, Grizzlies and Suns — hardly a murderer’s row. However, the Thunder have been inconsistent at home, going just 7-5 so far this season.
Chris Paul, Oklahoma City’s 34-year-old point guard, keeps showing he’s still got some life in his legs, going for 15 points, 10 assists and four steals in Saturday’s loss at Denver. For the week, CP3 averaged 14.8 points, 7.8 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 2.5 steals in 32.6 minutes per game, shooting 44.9 percent overall, but struggling from long range, hitting just 4-of-17.
Last week: Beat Minnesota 125-109, lost to Memphis 115-108, lost to Spurs at Mexico City 121-119 (OT)
This week: Monday vs. Portland, Tuesday at Clippers, Friday at Oklahoma City, Saturday vs. Houston
The Phoenix Suns will get tested this week with a pair of back-to-backs with tough back ends — at the Clippers on Tuesday and at home for the Rockets on Saturday. That comes off a 1-2 week that included a tough overtime loss to the Spurs Saturday in Mexico City, a game in which Devin Booker sat out with an injured right forearm.
Ricky Rubio had a whale of a week for Phoenix, averaging 21.0 points, 11.7 assists and 2.7 rebounds in 36.1 minutes per game, shooting 45.1 percent overall and hitting 5-of-13 from 3-point range. That included 25 points with 13 dimes on 10-of-20 shooting in the loss to San Antonio.