Brooklyn @ Oklahoma City preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 5, 2018 ) Oklahoma City 114, Brooklyn 112

The Brooklyn Nets look to post their fifth consecutive victory when they open a seven-game road trip on Wednesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Nets were superb on Monday night, when they held the Detroit Pistons to an NBA season-low 27.8 percent from the field during a 103-75 thrashing.

Brooklyn climbed up to sixth in the Eastern Conference thanks a 28-15 stretch and looked serious about being a playoff team during the dismantling of Detroit. "Our guys attacked it," Nets coach Kenny Atkinson told reporters afterward. "Sometimes when you're not used to these big games you might be on your heels a little bit. But I felt like we were the more aggressive team and we weren't afraid of the moment. Definitely a good sign for us if we have more of these big games in the future." Oklahoma City has been sputtering and Monday's 98-89 road win over the Utah Jazz was just its fourth in the past 11 games. "We did a great job of just competing," backup point guard Dennis Schroder told reporters. "Defensively and offensively. Just having fun, going back to our identity."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN, YES (Brooklyn), FS Oklahoma

ABOUT THE NETS (36-33): Brooklyn held Detroit to 19 or fewer points in the three of the four quarters while playing superb on both sides of the ball. "All the vets told us that this was a playoff-type game so we have to bring the right mentality and be ready for it," center Jarrett Allen told reporters. "We came in with dominance and force and just kept it throughout." Backup point guard Spencer Dinwiddie scored 19 points against Detroit and is averaging 23.3 over the last three games.

ABOUT THE THUNDER (41-26): Schroder scored 24 points against the Jazz, including several key second-half baskets while Utah was attempting to recover from a 13-point halftime deficit. "Dennis kind of quieted things for us and gave us a little bit of breathing room in some of those situations," Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan told reporters afterward. Starting point guard Russell Westbrook had 23 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists and topped 20 points in five straight games and nine of the past 10.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. All-Star PF Paul George scored 47 points - one shy of his career high - as the Thunder posted a 114-112 road win over the Nets on Dec. 5.

2. Brooklyn All-Star PG D'Angelo Russell is just 11-of-36 shooting over the past two games.

3. George is just 22-of-72 shooting in four games since returning from a shoulder injury.

PREDICTION: Thunder 112, Nets 108