Desmond Mason left the game late in the third quarter with what was diagnosed as a hyper-extended right knee. Mason's knee buckled when Memphis' Kyle Lowry accidentally undercut Mason, who was trying to prevent a breakaway dunk. It's uncertain how long Mason will be sidelined.
ATKINS PROVIDES SPARK Veteran point guard Chucky Atkins, getting rare quality minutes since he was acquired in a trade from Denver on Jan. 7, provided a spark off the bench in the second quarter with Oklahoma City down 14 points. Already a crowd favorite, Atkins finished with 10 points, including two 3-pointers.
"One thing I'm trying to do is bring veteran leadership," Atkins said. "Tonight, we came out a little flat. When coach called on me, I just wanted to bring some energy."
DEFENSIVE STOPPER?
Mason is considered to be the Thunder's top defender. If Mason is out three or more weeks, coach Scott Brooks believes Green can assume that role. Green scored 23 points, including a career-high five 3-pointers, but Brooks talked about Green's defense.
"Rudy Gay made it tough on Jeff early," Brooks said. "Jeff needs to understand he can be our defensive stopper. He has the ability. He has quickness. He has strength. He has speed. He's a big, long athlete. I give him credit that from the second quarter through overtime he did a good job contesting shots."
FORMER FOES
An eight-inch scar remains on the left triceps muscle of Westbrook, the result of a run-in with O.J. Mayo when the two were in college last year. Mayo starred at USC before Memphis selected him third overall in the NBA Draft. He left the mark on Westbrook's arm while swiping at the ball during the Trojans' second game against Westbrook's UCLA team.
"I didn't say nothing to him," Westbrook said. "He didn't do it on purpose, though, but I was about to get a layup."
FAST BREAK
Kyle Weaver, hampered by an ankle injury, did not dress because of a knee contusion suffered against the Clippers on Saturday night. ... Forward Joe Smith (cyst on knee) sat out for the eighth consecutive game and remains day-to-day. ... Westbrook was whistled for a technical for hanging on the rim in the fourth quarter, but the breakaway steal electrified the crowd.
SPECIAL NIGHT
Caleb Spady, who is battling brain cancer, has always wished to ride in a police car. Moore police heard about Spady, a 10-year-old from Hinton. They purchased tickets in a suite to Wednesday's game, escorted Spady to the Ford Center and arranged to have him meet Chris Wilcox, Nenad Krstic, Durant and Brooks before the game.
