Reggie Jackson News

Shawn Marion scored 19 points, Vince Carter added 18 and the Dallas Mavericks beat Oklahoma City 109-86 on Sunday night, ending a seven-game regular-season losing streak to the Thunder.

At this point in the NBA season, title contenders typically have their rotations set and the players have an understanding of their respective roles.

The Oklahoma City Thunder will have some hurdles to jump over during the final stretch of the season.

Tonight, the Mavericks travel the long, arduous trip up to Oklahoma -- okay, it's not even an hour by charter flight.

As the regular seasons winds down, the Oklahoma City Thunder is improving its play just in time to make a strong push into the playoffs.

Mar 13, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant handles the ball against Los Angeles Lakers forward Wesley Johnson during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Mar 9, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers point guard Jordan Farmar drives against Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Reggie Jackson during the second half at Staples Center.

Reggie Jackson has performed admirably this season, as a reserve and also as a starter in place of the injured Russell Westbrook.

The Thunder and the Rockets have a history that dates back to the playoff series last season, and a serious injury suffered by Russell Westbrook that he believes was avoidable at best, possibly caused by Patrick Beverley 's reckless play.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 3-5 since the All Star break, have given up on average 110 points per game over that stretch and now trail the San Antonio Spurs for the best record in the Western Conference.

Maybe this will humble the Thunder. Maybe this will show OKC, once and for all, that it isn't as good as it thinks.

After another big lead vanished, after another role player erupted for a career night and after another 48 minutes of futility on defense, the Thunder's problems became clear Sunday afternoon.

Mar 9, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Jodie Meeks drives against Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook during the second half at Staples Center.

This week's grades highlight some good individual performances, but it is difficult to put too much excitement in this kind of week that ended with a loss.

When the Houston Rockets waived him just before the start of the regular season, Reggie Williams could have continued his basketball development just about anywhere.

The Thunder finished a six-game homestand in style with the three straight wins, although the residency began poorly.

Russell Westbrook's athletic prowess is unquestioned. The Oklahoma City Thunder star is considered one of the best athletes at the point guard position.

In the second half against Memphis, his mission was simply to score as often as possible.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are good for keeping the lid on contract talks between the team and their players during the season.

With quiet for six straight days, it was as if the schedule makers knew the Bobcats-Hornets were about to play four out of the best five teams in the NBA.