Thunder plays loose in tight games

With the best record in the Western Conference, Oklahoma City is going to impress in most scenarios. So it's not surprising that the Thunder's mark in games decided by six points or less is 7-2.

"That's the sign of a good team," Nazr Mohammed said. "That's the sign of us maturing because it's a fine line between us winning and losing. A good team and bad team, when it's the end of the game, when it's crunch time, it's either losing by two or three points here and there or winning by two or three point here and there, so it really changes your record."

Helping matters is having Kevin Durant. The All-Star starter has become one of the top closers in the league, with several game-winners already this season.

Kevin Durant has become one of the top closers in the league, with several game-winners already this season.

"I think one thing about us, we stay cool," Durant said. "We stay composed. We stay poised in those last minutes of the game."

Thunder coach Scott Brooks said the success in games that come down to the wire isn't just blind luck.

"Our guys have really worked hard at improving in a lot of areas of the game, but I think that's an area that we've gotten better, but we can't rest on it," he said. "Late-game situations are always an area that every team has to improve upon, every player has to get better. We have three guys that can play-make for each other or the team, and then we have our share of bigs that can be thrown in there and do the job and do it at a very high level."

Oklahoma City (21-6) completed a five-game road trip with Friday night's 101-87 win at Utah. These two teams are meeting again Tuesday in Oklahoma City.

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