Spokane, WA (SportsNetwork. John Kasay Jersey .com) - The third-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs continue their quest for a possible No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, as they play host to the Portland Pilots in West Coast Conference action on Thursday. Portland enters the contest having lost four of its last five to fall to 12-9 on the season and 3-6 in conference. The Pilots, who are just 3-4 in true road games, dropped a 74-64 decision to visiting Saint Marys last Saturday, and theyve won only twice in their last eight games overall. At the opposite end of the spectrum resides a Gonzaga squad that has won 13 straight games and owns an impressive 20-1 record for the season, which includes a 9-0 league ledger. The Bulldogs are 11-0 at home this season, and they own the nations longest active home winning streak at 36 in a row. Their last home setback occurred on Dec. 8, 2012. These two teams met in Portland back on Jan. 3, and the Bulldogs claimed an 87-75 victory. As a result, Gonzagas lead in the all-time series was extended to 94-66, and it has won 20 of the last 21 meetings overall. Kevin Pangos and Przemek Karnowski scored 21 points each to lead the Zags in the first meeting, while Alec Wintering finished with 20 points and eight assists for the Pilots. Bryce Pressley scored 18 points and Thomas van der Mars logged a double-double consisting of 16 points and 13 rebounds, but those efforts werent enough to push the Pilots past the Saint Marys Gaels last weekend. Additionally, fellow starters Kevin Bailey (13 points) and Wintering (10 points) reached double digits as well for Portland, which struggled to hit a mere 30.2 percent of its field goal attempts, actually shooting better from 3-point distance (.444) in the game. Conversely, SMC drained 46.2 percent of its total shots, while claiming a commanding edge in points in the paint (32-16). Portland was guilty of only five turnovers, while Saint Marys had 10. Bailey is averaging 14.1 ppg to pace three double-digit scorers for Portland, as he is joined by Wintering (13.2 ppg, 5.6 apg) and van der Mars (10.9 ppg, 8.0 rpg), who help out in other areas as well. The team as a whole is putting up 72.5 ppg while allowing 68.9 ppg, and it is shooting a solid 38.4 percent from beyond the arc while earning a +5.1 advantage on the glass. Furthermore, the Pilots have converted 72.4 percent of their free throws this season. Gonzaga entertained Pacific last Saturday, and the game got out of hand early as the Bulldogs rolled to a 91-60 victory. The Zags put forth a balanced attack as five players finished in double figures, led by Karnowski and Gary Bell, Jr. with 13 points apiece. Collectively, the team shot 60 percent from the floor, knocking down 11-of-25 3-point tries in the process, while at the same time limiting the Tigers to 33.3 percent field goal efficiency, which included a paltry 22.7 percent showing beyond the arc. Gonzaga doubled up its guests both in points in the paint (40-20) and second-chance points (16-8), while nearly doing the same in bench points (39-20). Kyle Wiltjer has been GUs most potent scorer this season, as he nets 15.8 ppg behind a stellar 53.7 percent shooting effort. Karnowski (10.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg) has been better from the field (.612), and Domantas Sabonis is shooting a ridiculous 72.7 percent in tallying 9.8 ppg to go with his club-best 6.7 rpg and 17 blocks. Kevin Pangos (12.4 ppg, 4.9 apg) is one 3-pointer away from establishing the new school record for career treys. In all, Gonzaga has six players averaging at least 8.5 ppg, each of whom helps the team put up 81.6 ppg. The squads defensive stance permits only 60.7 ppg, and the Zags are +8.7 in rebounding margin, and +2.0 in turnover differential. Tommy Barnhardt Jersey .com) - The Hatch Attack is back in the Southern Conference. Earl Campbell Jersey .com) - The Toronto Raptors are paying Rudy Gay a visit on Wednesday night when they head into the Sleep Train Arena to take on the Sacramento Kings.OKLAHOMA CITY -- Kevin Durant did the expected. And for a change, Oklahoma Citys defence came along for the ride. Durant scored 33 points, Serge Ibaka had 17 points and 17 rebounds and the Thunder snapped a two-game skid by defeating the Milwaukee Bucks 101-85 Saturday night. Oklahoma City was coming off two poor defensive efforts. On Tuesday, the Thunder let the Jazz shoot 59 per cent from the field on their way to a 112-101 win. Two nights later, Denver led 89-66 after three quarters before holding on for a 101-88 win over the Thunder. This time, the Thunder held the Bucks to 40 per cent shooting and sent them to their fifth consecutive loss. "All we wanted to focus on was defence," Durant said. "We told the guys before the game, Dont worry about making shots or missing shots, just worry about locking in on defence, and I think they did a great job of that." Durant took care of much of the offence, though much of his damage came after a hard fall. He went up to block a shot in the second quarter, hit the floor and remained there for a few minutes. He got up and walked to the bench on his own as the crowds cheers broke a concerned silence. Moments later he made his first 3-pointer of the game. He made 7 of 9 shots from the field after the fall. "That fall woke me up," said Durant, who missed his first eight shots from the field. "One of my friends texted me after the game and said as soon as I fell, he dropped to his knees and prayed for me. I guess that helped, too." Jeremy Lamb added 17 points for the Thunder, who had lost four of six. Oklahoma City scored just 14 points in the first quarter and 38 in the first half before heating up and hitting 63 after the break. O.J. Mayo and Luke Ridnour scored 16 points apiece and Giannis Antetokounmpo had 13 points and 11 rebounds and five assists for the Bucks (7-29), who have the leagues worst record. Milwaukee coach Larry Drew was impressed with Antetokounmpos effort. The 19-year-old was matched up with Durant for much of the night, and he bothered him early. "I thought he took the challenge," Drew said. "Its great to put him in that situattion so he can learn. Jon Stinchcomb Jersey. . He has to feel good about how he played tonight." With the score tied at 54, Mayo was issued a technical foul for arguing with the officials. Durant made the free throw, then Lamb made a 3-pointer on the following possession. Lamb then made a layup to give the Thunder a 60-54 lead. Oklahoma City rolled from there. Durant was fouled on a 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left in the third quarter. He made all three free throws to give the Thunder a 77-62 lead. Durant scored 14 points in the period. It would have been worse had Brandon Knight not found his shooting stroke. Knight, held without a point in the first half, scored 11 of his 13 points in the third quarter. Oklahoma City made just 12 of 42 shots in the first half, but hit 13 of 24 in the third period. "It got away in the third quarter," Drew said. "I thought defensively, we had some breakdowns." Milwaukee didnt go away. Back-to-back 3s by Mayo cut Oklahoma Citys lead to 81-72 and forced the Thunder to call timeout with 9:20 remaining. The Thunder regrouped and controlled the rest of the game. Durant and Ibaka left with 1:45 remaining and the Thunder leading 99-85. Durant said it was good to be able to win ugly. "It shows we can win different ways," he said. "We can play fast-paced, slow it down, win a sloppy game or a low-scoring game. Tonight, we didnt get down on ourselves and let it affect our defence. Everybody played hard." NOTES: Milwaukee went scoreless for the final 5:09 of Friday nights 81-72 loss to Chicago and then missed its first 10 shots against Oklahoma City. ... The Thunder allowed 10 points in the first quarter, the fewest in a first quarter since the franchise moved to Oklahoma City in 2008. It also was the fewest the Thunder have allowed in any quarter this season. ... Thunder coach Scott Brooks said he never addressed Durant or the team about the incident involving Durants Twitter account. Durant has said his account was hacked on Thursday and a photo of him smoking a hookah was sent out without his knowledge. ... Milwaukees Larry Sanders was ejected for elbowing Steven Adams. ' ' '
