--The Thunder's game plan against Dwyane Wade was to force the Miami star to make jump shots. For the most part that worked, but Wade has a tendency to make those as well.
Though he needed 28 shots and got to the line only twice, Wade scored 32 in the Heat's 10-point win. Guarded primarily by Desmond Mason throughout the game, Wade has 18 in the first quarter. "He hit some shots," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "One thing that our guys did well was challenging his shots, contesting his shots. He's a guy that made some tough shots, and that's why he is a special player.
"He makes a lot of shots that you really can't defend. We challenged him and he made some tough ones, so you have to give them and Dwyane some credit. They did a good job of executing their game plan."
--Of the six teams out of the playoff race in the Western Conference, only Minnesota has a better record than the Thunder in the last 10 games. The Wolves are 7-3, while OKC is 5-5.
The Thunder just completed a three-game homestand with a 2-1 mark. Next up, after a Tuesday practice, is a two-game California trip to Golden State and the Los Angeles Clippers.
"We need to have a good solid practice," guard Desmond Mason said, "and take what we have done here and do on the road."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "He is a great player, All-Star and Olympian. We set out to make him take jump shots. We wanted him to make jump shots and he did -- 32 points on 28 shots. It was other five guys in double figures that hurt us." -- G Kevin Durant on Dwyane Wade's performance Sunday.
