The Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder will shoot for a sixth straight win over the lowly Detroit Pistons tonight in OKC.
The Thunder rebounded from a stunning setback to the NBA's worst team, Washington, by stifling New Jersey, 84-74, in Newark on Saturday.
Russell Westbrook totaled 21 points and six assists in that one while Kevin Durant posted 20 points and 15 rebounds. James Harden added 16 points and nine boards for the Thunder, who won for the eighth time in their past nine games.
It was Oklahoma City's lowest scoring output of the season but the team had 10 blocks and held the Nets to just 31.0 shooting, the franchise's best effort since the Seattle SuperSonics held Miami to 30.2 percent from the field back on Dec. 7, 2002.
"Defense is an ingredient in everything for us," Durant said.
The Pistons, meanwhile, snapped a four-game skid on Saturday when Rodney Stuckey, starting for the injured Ben Gordon, finished with 28 points and Detroit held on for a 94-91 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Tayshaun Prince added 17 points for the Pistons, who won for just the second time in 12 games overall.
"As a team we have been playing better, but we haven't really crossed over until tonight, so it feels good to get out of that slump," Pistons center Monroe, who finished with 10 points and eight rebounds, said. "It always feels good to get a good win, especially on your home court."
Gordon (sore left shoulder) and fellow guard Will Bynum (strained right foot) are both listed as questionable for tonight.
The Thunder are an impressive 6-1 at home this season and have never lost to Detroit in OKC (3-0) since relocating from Seattle.
The Pistons, meanwhile, have lost 14 straight to Western Conference opponents on the road dating back to a 100-94 triumph over Sacramento in November of 2010.
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