Billy Donovan and the Thunder are rolling.
After starting the regular season 3-3, Oklahoma City has won seven of its last nine games and sits in third place in the Western Conference.
Under the former Florida coach, the Thunder are averaging the second most points per game in the NBA (108.5), led by OKC’s leading scorers in forward Kevin Durant and guard Russell Westbrook.
Bealing Blue:
After suffering a shoulder injury in the second week of the season, Bradley Beal has struggled to stay on the court this year.
The former Florida guard has played in just 17 of Washington’s 33 games this season.
Even so, Beal has played well when he’s been available.
He leads the Wizards with 19.8 points per game and also collects 4.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per contest.
According to Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post, Beal has been increasing his level of activity during practice, but the Wizards have yet to announce a return date.
Horford getting hot:
After winning the Eastern Conference last regular season, Atlanta has fallen off slightly through the season’s first 36 games.
Led by veteran and former Gators center Al Horford, the Hawks sit in fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
But Horford is averaging 15.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists so far this season, and has shot 22-of-36 for 56 points combined over his last three games.
The Hawks next face Philadelphia on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Speights soaring:
The Golden State Warriors are continuing their dominance over the rest of the NBA, and Marreesse Speights is getting more minutes and opportunities.
While he’s averaging just 5.7 points per game on the season, Speights has averaged 10 points per game over his last five games.
The 6-foot-10 center had a season-high 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting in the Warriors’ 111-101 win against the Charlotte Hornets on Monday.
Speights followed that game up with his first double-double of the season — 12 points and 10 rebounds — in the Warriors’ 109-88 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.
Golden State (33-2) will play the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday at 10 p.m.
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Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan, left, talks with Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant, right, in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015. Oklahoma City won 122-112. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)
