by Matt Pinto

The Thunder had an answer to Wednesday's road trip opening eight point loss in Charlotte, an emphatic answer in the form of their most impressive road showing of the season, Friday's 115-89 rout of the Raptors in Toronto.

The Thunder rolled to a season high 71 first half points, learning from the late quarter lapses of Wednesday, they closed very strong Friday night in every regard. The victory served as their seventh 2-0 season series sweep of an Eastern Conference foe.

They go for number eight along those lines Sunday afternoon (1:30pm CT opening tip) as they challenge the Pacers at Indiana's Conseco Fieldhouse. At 42-25 now, 5th in the West, it would appear this Thunder clash against the 23-46 Pacers is a mismatch. But it didn't play out as such when the two collided January 9th at the Ford Center. Oklahoma City did build an 18 point lead in that game but could never fully shake free of Indiana, fending the Pacers off at night's end 108-102.

That OKC triumph featured a 40 point, 12 rebound virtuoso performance by Kevin Durant. It also featured ten made Pacers three pointers. That is Indiana's game and the Thunder's greatest concern in this one. Pacer shooting guard Brandon Rush (9.2ppg, 103 made three pointers), power forward Troy Murphy (14.2ppg, 9.9rpg, 103 made treys) and Indiana's top scorer and one-time All-Star Danny Granger (23.0ppg, 122 made three pointers) have all knocked down more than 100 long rangers this season! Indiana is sixth in the NBA in threes made, fourth in treys attempted.

The Thunder will need to close out well on the Pacers stable of shooters while doing an effective job getting back defensively as well as Indy loves the running game especially at home. Where Oklahoma City can make some hay is on the boards. Indiana is a very poor rebounding team, while the Thunder sit third in the league in boarding.

Scott Brooks' squad obliterated Toronto on the glass Friday by a 53-37 overall rebounding count. That edge translated to a 27-6 advantage in second chance points. This one could play out similarly. The Thunder shouldn't show up expecting an easy, breezy day at the office. The Pacers have won four in a row at Conseco Fieldhouse and each of their last four games overall have been decided by five points or less. The unusual start time will alter the body clocks of the players which will require adjustment. It is the club's second matinee this season.

OKC held off the Hawks in Atlanta 94-91 in a 1pm local tip back on January 18th. Hopefully that experience can be put to good use in this one, the finale of a three game road trip and the opening end of a back to back sequence as San Antonio awaits Monday night at the Ford Center in the opener of a four game home stand.