In the News

Thunder top Lakers 106-90 to reach West finals (Yahoo! Sports)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Ramon Sessions did the best he could to keep Russell Westbrook from making a high-flying dunk that would energize the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Johnson meets with Kings co-owner George Maloof (Yahoo! Sports)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson met with Kings co-owner George Maloof on Friday in Las Vegas in an attempt to revive talks about a new arena for the NBA team.

Durant, Westbrook combine for 78 v. Wolves (Yahoo! Sports)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) At one point during the fourth quarter, Minnesota Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman was so desperate to stop Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook that he put 6-foot-11 Anthony Randolph on the Oklahoma City Thunder's star point guard.

Durant scores 23 to lead Thunder past Raptors (Yahoo! Sports)

Kevin Durant scored 23 points and Oklahoma City had a 24-0 run bridging the third and fourth quarters en route to a 91-75 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night, snapping the Thunder's season-high three-game losing streak. James Harden scored 17 points and Russell Westbrook had 15 points, six assists and six rebounds for Oklahoma City, which remained percentage points behind San...

Thunder sweep home-and-home with Rockets (AP)

Kevin Durant hit a jumper with 22 seconds left and nailed two free throws to give the Oklahoma City Thunder a 98-95 win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night. Durant finished with 27 points and six rebounds, Russell Westbrook added 25 points and six assists, and reserve Nazr Mohammed had a season-high 17 points and six rebounds for the Thunder.

Thunder G Sefolosha to sit for flu like symptoms
Starting guard Thabo Sefolosha will miss the Oklahoma City Thunder's game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night because of flulike symptoms.

Thunder G Sefolosha out sick (AP)
Starting guard Thabo Sefolosha will miss the Oklahoma City Thunder's game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night because of flulike symptoms. Coach Scott Brooks said before the game that James Harden would take Sefolosha's place in the starting lineup. Reserve Daequan Cook, who missed Monday night's game at Dallas with flulike symptoms, was expected to play against...

Thunder guard Sefolosha signs with Turkish club
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Thabo Sefolosha has signed to play for Turkish club Fenerbahce during the NBA lockout.

Thunder's Sefolosha eyes deal to play in Turkey
Oklahoma City Thunder starting guard Thabo Sefolosha is working on a deal to play in the Euroleague while the NBA lockout is in place.

Thunder G Sefolosha to play in Turkey (AP)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Thabo Sefolosha has signed to play for Turkish club Fenerbahce during the NBA lockout. Sefolosha says in a statement that he will fly to Istanbul on Thursday after signing the deal on Tuesday. It includes an exit clause that allows him return to the United States if the NBA lockout ends.

Thunder G Sefolosha may play in Turkey (AP)
Oklahoma City Thunder starting guard Thabo Sefolosha is working on a deal to play in the Euroleague while the NBA lockout is in place. Sefolosha's agent, Guy Zucker, said a contract with the Turkish team Fenerbahce Ulker could be finalized as early as Wednesday. Zucker says any deal would include an exit clause that would bring Sefolosha back to the Thunder once the lockout is resolved.

Sefolosha, Fenerbahce agree to deal
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Thabo Sefolosha has signed to play for Turkish club Fenerbahce during the NBA lockout.

Surging Thunder overcome Wallace's 40 (AP)

Russell Westbrook hit three 3-pointers down the stretch, including the clincher with 21 seconds left, and the Oklahoma City Thunder overcame a 40-point night by Gerald Wallace on Sunday to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 99-90 and clinch their second straight playoff berth. Westbrook's 3 from the left wing gave the Thunder a 97-90 lead and, after Wallace missed a jumper with 16 seconds...

Thunder snap 11-game skid in Houston (AP)
Kevin Durant scored 30 points, Russell Westbrook added 23 points and 13 assists, and the Oklahoma City Thunder snapped the franchise's 11-game losing streak in Houston with a 118-112 win over the Rockets on Wednesday night. Thabo Sefolosha grabbed 13 rebounds, and Serge Ibaka and Jeff Green added 16 points apiece for the Thunder.

Durant scores 32 as Thunder top Rockets (AP)

Kevin Durant scored 32 points, Thabo Sefolosha added a season-high 15 points and nine rebounds and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Houston Rockets 117-105 on Wednesday night for their fourth straight win. Durant was on the bench with four fouls late in the third quarter when the Thunder scored eight straight points to take control of the game.

Durant returns with 28 in Thunder win (AP)

Kevin Durant scored 28 points in his first in his first game back from a knee injury, Russell Westbrook added 19 points and 13 assists and the Oklahoma City Thunder held off Golden State's fourth-quarter charge to beat the Warriors 114-109 on Sunday night. Stephen Curry scored a season-high 39 points and ignited the Warriors' rally from a 21-point deficit to cut it to three in the final...

Thunder drop 11th straight at Houston (AP)

The Houston Rockets beat the Oklahoma City Thunder at their own game. Kevin Martin scored 23 points, Shane Battier hit 4 of 6 attempts from 3-point range and the Rockets held off a late surge from the Thunder for a 99-98 victory Sunday night. The Rockets have been blowing fourth quarter leads this season and the Thunder have been pulling out games in the closing minutes.

Durant keys late run as Thunder win (AP)

Russell Westbrook scored 36 points, Kevin Durant had eight of his 34 during Oklahoma City's decisive run in the final 5 minutes, and the Thunder beat Portland 110-108 Friday night for their second win over the Trail Blazers in eight days. Durant scored the final eight points in a 10-0 run that turned the Thunder's five-point deficit into a 105-100 lead with 1:29 to play.

Durant, Westbrook help Thunder hang on (AP)
Thabo Sefolosha stood on the sideline, with just 1 second to make a play that would keep the charging Philadelphia 76ers at bay. With a crosscourt lob to Russell Westbrook for a banked-in layup, the Oklahoma City Thunder's lead was safe until Kevin Durant could provide the finishing touches on a 109-103 victory on Wednesday night.

Hill helps Spurs overcome 45 by Durant (AP)
George Hill scored a career-high 27 points, and the San Antonio Spurs overcame Kevin Durant's 45 to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 99-96 on Monday night and forge a tie between the teams for sixth place in the Western Conference standings. Serge Ibaka swatted away Tim Duncan's layup try to give the Thunder a chance with 8.8 seconds left, but Thabo Sefolosha missed a 3-pointer from the left...

Thunder cruise past short-handed Hornets (AP)

Kevin Durant scored 29 points, Russell Westbrook added 17 points and came up just shy of a triple-double, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the injury-depleted New Orleans Hornets 98-83 on Wednesday night. The Hornets got off to a hot start in their latest return to the building they called home for two seasons following Hurricane Katrina, but it was short-lived with Peja Stojakovic joining...

Thunder beat Clippers behind Durant's 32 (AP)

Kevin Durant had 32 points and nine rebounds, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Los Angeles Clippers 104-87 on Friday night for their 13th victory in 16 games. It was Durant's 35th game this season with 30 or more points, tying the franchise record Spencer Haywood set with the 1972-73 Seattle SuperSonics.

Thunder ride Durant, win sixth straight (AP)

Kevin Durant had 33 points and 11 rebounds to help Oklahoma City extend its season-high winning streak to six games with an 89-77 victory over Portland on Tuesday night. It's the 25th straight game that Durant has scored 25 or more points -- the longest streak since Allen Iverson did it in 27 consecutive games during the 2000-01 season.

Cavs beat Thunder on Gibson's late 3 (AP)

Daniel Gibson's 3-pointer with 8.7 seconds remaining gave the Cleveland Cavaliers a 100-99 victory over Oklahoma City on Saturday night, the Thunder's second loss in two nights in the final seconds. LeBron James had 37 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds, and Shaquille O'Neal added a season-high 22 points to help the Cavaliers (34-11) win their fourth straight.

Durant scores 36 as Thunder roll by Heat (AP)

Kevin Durant scored 36 points on the most efficient shooting night of his career and also pulled down 10 rebounds as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the road-weary Miami Heat 98-80 on Saturday night. Durant went 14 for 18 from the field to finish at 77 percent, the highest mark of his three-year career.

Blair's 28 and 21 lift Duncan-less Spurs (AP)

Rookie DeJuan Blair set new career highs with 28 points and 21 rebounds while filling in for Tim Duncan, and Richard Jefferson hit the game-winning jumper in overtime to lift the San Antonio Spurs to a 109-108 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Jefferson ended up with the ball after the Spurs' play went awry, with Manu Ginobili diving out of bounds to save an errant pass...

Surprising Thunder climb back above .500 (AP)

Kevin Durant scored 29 points, Russell Westbrook had 22 and the Oklahoma City Thunder held off the Charlotte Bobcats 98-91 on Saturday night. Nenad Krstic added 13 points and 10 rebounds for the surprising Thunder, who improved to 15-14. They didn't earn their 15th win last season until the 60th game, on March 2.

James' 44, Williams' 48-footer lift Cavs (AP)

LeBron James scored a season-high 44 points and Mo Williams hit a backbreaking halfcourt shot in the fourth quarter to help the Cleveland Cavaliers close out a 102-89 win against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night. Williams tracked down the ball after Thabo Sefolosha had tipped it into the backcourt, then turned and fired a 48-footer with coach Mike Brown yelling to him as the shot clock...

Durant's 28 lift Thunder over Jazz (AP)

Kevin Durant scored 28 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder held off a late surge by Utah for a 104-94 win over the Jazz on Tuesday night. Durant also had eight assists and Jeff Green had 19 points, six rebounds and five assists as the Thunder ended a four-game losing streak in Utah. The Thunder built a 19-point lead early in the fourth quarter and didn't allow the Jazz to get any closer than...

Oklahoma City Thunder sign Thabo Sefolosha to multiyear extension
Guard Thabo Sefolosha has signed a multiyear contract extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Thunder sign G Sefolosha to extension (AP)
Guard Thabo Sefolosha has signed a multiyear contract extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder. General manager Sam Presti announced the new deal Wednesday before the team's season opener against the Sacramento Kings. Terms were not disclosed. Sefolosha averaged 8.5 points and 5.2 rebounds last season with the Thunder after being acquired in a February trade with the Chicago Bulls.

Finley makes 5 of Spurs' 14 3s in win (AP)

Kevin Durant was having so much fun at his homecoming that even a loss to the San Antonio Spurs couldn't spoil it. The Oklahoma City Thunder forward toured the University of Texas campus where he spent one season in college, visited his old teammates and coaches and got to watch them practice. Then he went out and scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds in 35 minutes on his old court, only...

Johnson's 41 lift Hawks by Bulls 129-117 (AP)

After holding 14 of their last 15 opponents under 100 points, the Atlanta Hawks expected a low-scoring game against Chicago. When that plan failed, the Hawks seemed to enjoy a rare opportunity to change their style. Joe Johnson scored a season-high 41 points, Josh Smith also set a season high with 24, and the Hawks withstood Ben Gordon's 3-point barrage to beat the Bulls 129-117 on Saturday night.

Bulls exercise contract options on Thomas, Noah
The Chicago Bulls exercised contract options for the 2009-10 season on forward Tyrus Thomas, guard Thabo Sefolosha and center Joakim Noah on Friday.

Bulls pick up options on 3 players (AP)
The Chicago Bulls exercised contract options for the 2009-10 season on forward Tyrus Thomas, guard Thabo Sefolosha and center Joakim Noah on Friday. Thomas has averaged 6.0 points and 4.2 rebounds in two seasons. The fourth overall pick by Portland in 2006, he was acquired in a trade for the draft rights to LaMarcus Aldridge.

McGrady helps Rockets win 12th in a row (AP)

Bobby Jackson was lauded for his ability to be a spark off the bench when he was traded to Houston last week. In his first game with the Rockets, the point guard delivered. Jackson scored 11 of his 14 points in the second half and helped Houston to its 12th straight win, a 110-97 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Sunday night.

Paul helps Hornets past Bulls 100-86 (AP)

Chris Paul had 25 points and 14 assists in a 100-86 victory over the Bulls on Tuesday night, sending Chicago to its sixth loss in nine games. David West added 27 points for the Hornets and Tyson Chandler, who played five seasons for the Bulls before being traded before the 2006-07 season, was booed throughout the game and scored four points and had 16 rebounds.

Timberwolves win ugly, 83-67 over Bulls (AP)

In an ugly offensive game, Al Jefferson and Ryan Gomes gave the Minnesota Timberwolves more than enough. Jefferson had 26 points and 20 rebounds, and Gomes added 25 points and 10 rebounds to help the Timberwolves to a 83-67 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night. After a horrendous start to the night on offense for both teams, the Wolves closed the third period with an 11-0 run and added...

Bulls hand Heat 11th straight loss (AP)

Ben Gordon scored 24 points, Joe Smith added 23 and the Chicago Bulls handed Miami its 11th straight loss, beating the Heat 126-96 on Wednesday night. Luol Deng had 21 points and Andres Nocioni rebounded from an injury in Tuesday's loss at Orlando to score 20 points. Thabo Sefolosha scored a season-high 17 points for the Bulls, whose 126 points were a season high.

Bryant, bench lead Lakers past Bulls (AP)

Kobe Bryant scored 10 of his 18 points in the third quarter, five Los Angeles reserves finished in double figures and the Lakers beat the Chicago Bulls 106-78 on Sunday night for their third straight victory. Los Angeles blew the game open by scoring 18 straight points to finish the third quarter and start the fourth for an 81-60 lead with 9:45 remaining.

Unwanted Wright helps Nets top Bulls (AP)

Unwanted Antoine Wright scored 14 of his career-high 21 points in the fourth quarter and overtime to lead the New Jersey Nets to a 112-103 victory over the distracted Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night. Richard Jefferson added 29 points and 10 rebounds, Vince Carter had 24 points and a big steal late and Jason Kidd handed out 13 assists to lead the Nets to their 12th straight win over Chicago in New...

Bulls exercise options on Tyrus Thomas, Thabo Sefolosha
The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has picked up the options on the 2008-09 contracts of forward Tyrus Thomas and guard Thabo Sefolosha. The announcement means that both players will be under contract to the Bulls for the 2008-09 season. Thomas (6-9, 215) appeared in 72 games (four starts) last year and averaged 5.2 ppg, [...]

Thabo Sefolosha, G/F - CHI
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