Brooklyn @ Oklahoma City preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 7, 2017 ) Oklahoma City 95, Brooklyn 100

The Oklahoma City Thunder are soaring with confidence after an epic blowout of the Cleveland Cavaliers and look to avoid a letdown when they host the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday. Oklahoma City is seeking its fifth straight victory and will be hard-pressed to top Saturday's 148-124 steamrolling of the Cavaliers.

Forwards Paul George (36 points) and Carmelo Anthony (29), center Steven Adams (25 points, 10 rebounds) and point guard Russell Westbrook (23 points, season-best 20 assists) all had huge outings against Cleveland as the Thunder moved a season-best six games above .500. "We can be as good as any team in the West, any team in the NBA for that matter," George told reporters. "When we play the right way, the game comes easy." Brooklyn posted a 101-100 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday when point guard Spencer Dinwiddie knocked down the winning jumper with 0.9 seconds left. "That was a heck of a shot," Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said afterward. "I'm happy for Spencer, because he (played in Detroit), obviously, but I'm happier for the team. I wasn't sure we had the poise and understanding to get a win like this."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, YES (Brooklyn), FSN Oklahoma

ABOUT THE NETS (18-29): Point guard D'Angelo Russell is trying to regain his form after missing two-plus months after knee surgery and he averaged just two points on 1-of-10 shooting in his first two games since returning to the lineup. Dinwiddie received his opportunity when Russell went down and he has been a lifesaver for Brooklyn and he scored 22 points while relishing making the decisive shot in the win over Detroit. "I've kind of tip-toed around it, but let's be real here," Dinwiddie told reporters. "I started my career off here (in Detroit). For lack of a better word, I was essentially cut. So how would you feel?"

ABOUT THE THUNDER (26-20): George averaged just 15.3 points during a four-game stretch before erupting for his sixth 30-point outing of the campaign while making 12-of-19 field-goal attempts. He remains amazed with the skills of Westbrook, who is averaging 24.8 points, 10.1 assists and 9.7 rebounds while repeatedly clearing the way for George to receive wide-open shots. "He gets it and goes and he's down the court so fast," George told reporters. "Then he's looking and he's finding guys, it sets a precedent that that's how we're going to play. We're going to play this together and we're going to look for one another. It's all about making this as easy as possible with the tools that we have."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. SG Caris LeVert scored 21 points as the Nets posted a 100-95 victory over the Thunder in Mexico City on Dec. 7.

2. Brooklyn SF DeMarre Carroll is averaging 18.8 points and 7.5 rebounds over the last four games.

3. Adams has recorded four straight double-doubles and is averaging 18.3 points and 11 rebounds during the stretch.

PREDICTION: Thunder 115, Nets 104