Nenad Krstic hopes to play tonight after missing Monday's game with a sinus infection. His fever subsided, Krstic returned to practice Tuesday. "I played a lot of games this summer. When I play a lot my immune system sometimes is low," Krstic said. "That's why I got sick. If the fever doesn't come back I expect to play (tonight). I did a full practice. I feel fine. Physically I'm in really good shape." FINISH STRONG
At the end of Tuesday's practice, perimeter players lined up at midcourt. One by one they drove through seven people in the lane, assistant coaches and support staff members. Some held pads to impede progress. Others slapped at players' arms.
"Every program I've been with has done this," coach Scott Brooks said. "It creates concentration. It teaches you to take the hit and make the layup. It helps. It's one thing we'll continue to work on, finish the play strong. (Laughing) There's not a better way to hit our players without getting in trouble."
HOMECOMING
Etan Thomas said he's tried to get "as many tickets as possible" for tonight's preseason game in Tulsa. Thomas played at Tulsa Washington. When he was told about the trade, he was excited to learn the Thunder plans to play one preseason game every year in his hometown.
COLLISON UPDATE
Nick Collison, sidelined by a severely sprained ankle since training camp started two weeks ago, is improving but not ready to play. Is Brooks concerned with the opener just two weeks away?
"No concern at the moment," Brooks said. "I'd like to get him back as soon as he's healthy. He's moving a lot better. Our (medical) staff has done a great job of keeping his conditioning on our G machine. He's been getting a lot of conditioning work in. It's still day to day."
GM'S CITE Thunder
Oklahoma City finished third in balloting for the league's most improved team in the annual general managers survey conducted by NBA.com. Washington finished first (48.3 percent), followed by the LA Clippers (17.2) and the Thunder (13.8).
In other categories, GMs picked the Lakers (60.7 percent) to repeat as champion, Boston (50.0) to win the Eastern Conference, LeBron James (69.0) to repeat as MVP, Blake Griffin (79.3) to win Rookie of the Year, Dwight Howard (46.4) the best defensive player and Dirk Nowitzki (64.3) the best international player.
