Oklahoma City (10-8) has beaten five teams that reached the playoffs last year. Though that doesn't guarantee anything for this season, it has ratcheted up the expectations and the excitement around the team. "The fact we're getting better gives fans something to look forward to," Kevin Durant said. "Hopefully down the line the playoffs are in our future. That would be pretty cool, but we're just taking it game to game." The front office has made of point of focusing on daily improvement and not the postseason. Still, the players realize that winning, even in the early going, is going to bring attention.
"Even though everybody is encouraged with our start, it's only November," center Nick Collison said. "There's a lot of basketball left."
Durant made it a point to say the playoffs were a goal during the offseason. His reasoning was twofold.
"If I would have said we're not going to make the playoffs (the media) would have made a big deal out of that, too," Durant said. "I'm the ultimate competitor. I'll always want to be at the highest level. That's the playoffs, eventually the Finals."
THUNDER 117, SIXERS 106: Kevin Durant scored 33 and Nick Collison had his best game of the season off the bench, as Oklahoma City sent visiting Philadelphia to its eighth straight loss Wednesday night.
The Sixers could have used Allen Iverson, who rejoins the team Monday in Philadelphia. Five Thunder players scored in double-figures, including 18 from Collison in his first game back from injury.
Russell Westbrook added 15 assists and Jeff Green scored 19 as Oklahoma City improved to 10-8 and 5-4 at the Ford Center. The Thunder have two games left on their five-game homestand.
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