By: Matt Pinto

Who would have thought 30 wins at the All-Star break? That would be might impressive! The Thunder have positioned themselves for exactly that feat with a victory tonight in Portland. It is the final game before the break for Oklahoma City (29-21) and it's a significant one in the standings. OKC has ripped off five consecutive triumphs moving half a game in front of the ailing Trail Blazers(30-23) for seventh in the Western Conference.

The Thunder made it five straight offensive games scoring more than 100 points with a 104-95 conquest of Golden State Saturday night. Russell Westbrook (16.2ppg, 7.5apg) was extraordinary with a near quadruple double in the win over the Warriors with 21 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds and a career high 8 steals. That performance punctuated a scintillating three game weeklong run that earned the emerging second year floor leader the honor Western Conference Player of the Week. It marks the third time in five weeks that the Thunder have received the award, as Kevin Durant has secured it twice this season. Tonight Westbrook matches up against Blazer veteran point guard Andre Miller (13.2ppg, 5.3apg), who recently exploded for 52 points in an overtime victory over Dallas.

Miller is looking to score more because Portland is without it's top scorer three-time All-Star Brandon Roy (23.1ppg) with a right hamstring strain, big men Greg Oden (left knee) and Joel Przybilla (right knee) and athletic scoring sub Travis Outlaw (left foot) are also sidelined long term. Aside from Miller, the Thunder must be wary of the three point shooting prowess of Martell Webster (11.0ppg, 101 made treys this season) and the versatile offensive game of power forward LaMarcus Aldridge (17.1ppg, 8.3rpg).

When much healthier Portland upended the Thunder at the Ford Center November 1 83-74, holding OKC to a measly 6 assists and 34%FG shooting.  Kevin Durant was limitted to 16 points on 3-20 field goal shooting that night. While the Trail Blazers are a much different foe due to their rash of debilitating injuries, Durant's a different offensive force himself than he was in early November riding a franchise record streak of 24 straight games pumping in 25 points or more. Speaking of streaks, tonight will feature the Blazers' 100th consecutive sell-out at the Rose Garden. Stands packed with passionate support a big part of the reason the Trail Blazers have beaten the Thunder five straight times here.