JANUARY 7•STAR-TELEGRAM.COM
Defensive Rebounding and Effort Plaguing the ThunderOklahoma City’s energy has been lacking after a week of momentum wins.
OKC Thunder Not Worried About Two-Game SkidThe Thunder lost two straight games for the first time since November on Friday.
JANUARY 6•NEWSOBSERVER.COM
Nets waive G Armoni BrooksThe Brooklyn Nets waived guard Armoni Brooks on Saturday.Brooks, 25, appeared in 10 games as a reserve this season, averaging 4.2 points, 1....
JANUARY 6•NEWSOBSERVER.COM
OKC Thunder Finding Success in Clutch SituationsAfter struggling to close games last season, the Thunder are putting it together this year.
JANUARY 6•STAR-TELEGRAM.COM
Lonnie Walker IV - Handles light role in returnWalker (hamstring/illness) tallied zero points (0-2 FG, 0-1 3Pt), one rebound and one steal in six minutes Friday in the Nets' 124-115 win over the Thunder.
ImpactWalker checked into the game to begin the second quarter and checked out with 6:05 remaining in the period. He never returned to the contest, though the Nets didn't indicate that Walker experienced any sort of setback in what was his first appearance in more than a month following an extended absence due to a hamstring injury and an illness. Aside from Ben Simmons (back), the Nets have all their key rotation players available, so Walker looks as though he'll have to settle for a small role on the second unit in most games.
JANUARY 6•ROTOWIRE
Dennis Smith Jr. - Shines off bench FridaySmith totaled 13 points (6-11 FG, 1-4 3Pt), 12 rebounds, seven assists and two steals across 25 minutes during Friday's 124-115 win over the Thunder.
ImpactSmith struggled with his shot from beyond the arc, but that's perhaps the only issue he encountered in one of his best personal displays in recent memory. Smith ended just three assists away from recording a double-double, and while he's not going to steal the starting point guard role away from Spencer Dinwiddie any time soon, he might be in line for an uptick in minutes, given how productive he's looked off the bench of late. Over his last eight outings (one start), Smith is averaging 8.4 points, 4.6 assists, 3.9 assists and 1.1 steals across 21.1 minutes per game.
JANUARY 6•ROTOWIRE
Nic Claxton - Records double-double FClaxton amassed 23 points (8-11 FG, 7-10 FT), 13 rebounds, three assists and one steal in 34 minutes during Friday's 124-115 victory over the Thunder.
ImpactClaxton was impressive on both ends of the court and lifted the Nets to a huge win in front of their fans while ending a five-game losing skid. Claxton's performance was even better considering he was tasked with slowing down Chet Holmgren, one of the most versatile big men in the NBA. Claxton is a double-double threat every time he steps on the court, and he has achieved that feat in five of his last six appearances.
JANUARY 6•ROTOWIRE
