--C Johan Petro has seen his playing time diminish since Scott Brooks took over as coach. Brooks said that change is just a matter of numbers, not Petro's performance.

The Thunder are playing with a smaller lineup and Petro, the opening night starting center, won't be a major part of the rotation most nights. He was, however, against Dwight Howard, logging 19 minutes and scoring 15.

"You have to go with different guys at different times," Brooks said. "It's nothing against Johan. He has to stay patient and continue to work hard and be a pro, and he has been doing that. It's not like he's never going to get opportunities again."

--G Russell Westbrook bounced back from a 2-for-9 shooting performance that included five turnovers in his second career start with a team-high 19 points, nine rebounds and five assists Friday at Orlando.

"He's going to learn from all of the games that he plays," Scott Brooks said. "You have to come ready to play each night. It's a tough league, especially at that position."

--G Earl Watson totaled a team-high 14 assists in the two games leading up to Saturday. In a sign that the team is moving the ball better as a whole, the Thunder racked up 44 assists on 72 made baskets in those games against Charlotte and Orlando.

"That's a good sign, but basketball is more than assists-field-goal ratio," Watson said. "There are other areas of the game we have to get better. It's going to take some time. As long as we go about it the right way, we'll get there."

MEDICAL WATCH:

--F D.J. White (jaw surgery) had a benign tumor removed on Oct. 13. The second phase of the surgery, expected to follow in about six weeks, involves mending the jaw with bone graft taken from his hip. Recovery time is four-to-six months.

--C Robert Swift (lower back discomfort) is inactive. He's officially listed as day-to-day.