Opening Night jitters weren't an issue this time around for Kevin Durant. As the franchise player and team leader, they shouldn't, but the 21-year-old whiz is only entering his third season in the NBA. "I feel good," Durant said. "This time the last two years I was shaking. I had butterflies, but now I'm calm and I'm ready to play. I'm the leader of this team. They follow me, so I've got to be calm and go out there and lead us." Durant emerged as one of the league's top scorers last season and he could be in the running for his first All-Star nod during this one. His comfort level within the league could be the catalyst for his continued improvement.
As he's said before, he feels as though he's seen most of what the league has to offer. That means fewer surprises and better reaction.
"Last year, going into games I would think too much," Durant said. "Just small, stupid things I would think about, but now I'm just calm and ready to play. I'm just more focused and hopefully I can go out there and help our team get some more wins."
Durant did his part in the home opener with 25 points in a win over Sacramento. Getting a foothold on the road is another issue, and the Thunder are at Detroit on Friday night.
THUNDER 102, KINGS 89: After last season's miserable start, a double-digit win in the home opener is just what a team with higher expectations needed. Kevin Durant had 25 points and 11 rebounds as Oklahoma City easily handed Sacramento on Wednesday night.
Jeff Green added 24 points and Nenad Krstic had 20 for the Thunder. Oklahoma City led from start to finish, building as much as a 23-point advantage over the Kings in Paul Westphal's debut as coach.
Russell Westbrook scored 14 points and a career-high 13 assists for Oklahoma City, which shot better than 50 percent from the floor and beyond the three-point line. Kevin Martin paced Sacramento with 27 points.
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