Nick Collison News

The Oklahoma City Thunder passed the ball all over the court, played smothering defense and looked like a team with legitimate hopes of making the playoffs.

Miami Heat power forward Udonis Haslem was held out of Wednesday night's game against the Atlanta Hawks after aggravating a shoulder strain during the latter stages of Tuesday night's home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

PROGRAMMING NOTE : I will be going out of town for a few days. Daily Thunder will still be up and running at full capacity though.

I have no idea what is going on here. This actually comes to mind. So the Thunder drops a bad one at home to the Clippers.

Kevin Durant scored 32 points, Russell Westbrook had 24 and the Oklahoma City Thunder added to their surprising start by beating the Miami Heat 100-87 on Tuesday night.

The day after their inspirational win in San Antonio, the Thunder faced an even more significant game at home against the imminently beatable Los Angeles Clippers.

San Antonio Spurs center Antonio McDyess scrambles for a loose ball against Oklahoma City's Nick Collison during the second half of an NBA basketball game at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Saturday, Nov.

Thunder forward Kevin Durant is guarded by the Spurs' Richard Jefferson during a preseason game at the Erwin Center in Austin.

It was a bipolar week featuring the Thunder's best performance of the season, and followed immediately by their most embarrassing loss to date.A As a result, the article trying to make sense of this team that I had planned isn't going to happen because I am having trouble figuring them out.A So, instead, enjoy a bunch of random thoughts I've had ...

PAUL KITAGAKI JR. pkitagaki@sacbee.com Recently signed Ime Udoka, left, of the Kings steals the ball from Oklahoma City's Nick Collison in the first half Tuesday night at Arco Arena.

If you can't tell, I'm a little obsessed with the details of basketball. I like knowing how and why the other team scored, as well as my own.

Most NBA players want to be tough. But ask anyone around the league and they'll tell you few really are.

"At those USA trials , that's when he showed he could really play point guard," Durant said.

Those expecting offensive fireworks Friday night at the Palace were sorely disappointed.

November 29th, game number 18. That was the date and the game number last year in which the OKC Thunder won their second game.

Kevin Durant scored 25 points Friday and Oklahoma City ran off nine straight points in the fourth period to defeat Detroit 91-83. The Oklahoma City franchise's last win in Detroit came in December 2003 -- long before the Thunder moved from Seattle.

If the Thunder is going to rise to playoff contention, one way to do it is on the backs of bad teams.

Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder completed step one in avoiding another horrendous start to the season.

Kevin Durant was born two days after Olympic sprinter Ben Johnson was stripped of his 100-meter gold medal at Seoul for doping.

Mason returns to the Ford Center tonight and for next week's season opener. "You build relationships," Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks said.