--The Thunder followed a miserable showing at Cleveland with nearly its second win of the season Friday against Minnesota. The Timberwolves, however, prevailed with a buzzer-beater.
For a team that's already fired its coach, owns the league's worst record and tied the longest losing streak in franchise history, coming close was a good start. "We did have our worst game of the year a few nights back," coach Scott Brooks said. "And the way they came back and responded after that loss showed a lot. We still have a team that's willing to fight for each other, willing to compete, and even (Friday) that wasn't our best game.
"Things didn't go our way, but we still hung in there tight. We've just got to continue to take effort like that, and eventually we're going to turn it around."
--Desmond Mason was part of the Hornets when things weren't going so well in Oklahoma City. He knows that the fans will stay with the team if it shows effort on a nightly basis.
"There's really no pressure," Mason said. "I've been around this town long enough and sensed the past couple of days when I got e-mails from friends around town. It's basically, 'You guys play hard and put forth effort, and we'll back you 100 percent.'
"We want to win. That's obvious. We just need to play hard, put a good product on the floor, and the wins will take care of themselves."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's time to get together as a team and continue to fight through in these tough times. It's not easy. And all we want is guys to fight every night. We will do that." -- Coach Scott Brooks.
