The Thunder are good again and 11 other things from Friday night in the NBA

We’re about a third of the way through the season, but the Thunder are finally starting to figure things out. They’ve won five of their last six games and the team is starting to look cohesive again in crunch time where they were so good last season.

Russell Westbrook looks like last season’s MVP again. He’s shot the ball poorly for most of this season, but over the Thunder’s last four games he’s shooting 62 percent from the field and averaging 29 points per game including this insane game winner to cap his gargantuan 30-point, 15-assist and 7-rebound effort.

The Brodie is back.

So what’s really changed for the Thunder? Well, it seems that Carmelo Anthony is finally embracing playing like Olympic Melo in the NBA.

Less is more for Anthony here. Westbrook can carry the heaviest of loads on his shoulders, but he needs the best pressure releases for when things are too tight. Anthony can be that — he went 7-12 from deep tonight. If he keeps this up for the Thunder, they’re a scary team.

Sure, this team will have its ups and downs. But we’re really starting to see the Lakers’ young core put it all together. Kyle Kuzma dropped 27 points and 14 rebounds for his third game in a row of, at least, 25 points. Lonzo Ball hit a career high five 3-point shots in a game on his way to 24 points and five assists — he hit 40 all season before Friday night. Julius Randle torched Draymond Green for 21 points and 10 rebounds.

We don’t know exactly what this team is going to look like or who will be around in, say, three or four years. But the fog that hovered over the team’s future for so long is really starting to clear up. Ball looks like a legitimate two-way NBA player. Kuzma is a legitimate scorer. So is Brandon Ingram.

They lost to the Warriors again on Friday, but they pushed them to the brink. A few years and a few more pieces will do this team really well. Watch out, NBA.

When is the last time the Nets held a 40-point lead, you ask? I have no idea, but they had one in Brooklyn on Friday night against the Wizards. It was all bad for Washington.

They couldn’t hit anything but the Nets were hitting everything. Brooklyn went 14-41 from deep and shot 50 percent from the floor overall. At one point, the Nets led 110-70.

I don’t know if the Nets just looked like a world beaters or if the Wizards were actually tanking for Trae Young. Whatever the case, things weren’t fun for D.C.

The Rockets may have lost, but that doesn’t make James Harden’s 51-point effort any less incredible. And get this: According to Statmuse, he has one more 50-point game than the entire league.

It’s only a matter of time until he reaches 60, tbh. Fear the beard.

He posted 36 points and 7 assists. He also punctuated the Clippers’ win with his best Harden impression.

It hasn’t been a great season for Rivers, but this game was certainly his best highlight so far. Clippers fans are hoping he can give them more of this — even if it’s just so the team can flip him down the line.

Vucci my man, bruh, I hate that it had to be him. Somebody mop that slick spot up, though.

Look at this hustle.

Durant simply wasn’t making plays like that two seasons ago. Now he’s got more freedom and it’s paying off. He’s a lock for an All-Defensive team at this point.

Pistons 104, Knicks 101 (Posting and Toasting recap | Detroit Bad Boys recap)

Pelicans 111, Magic 97 (The Bird Writes recap | Orlando Pinstripe Post recap)

Heat 113, Mavericks 101 (Mavs Moneyball recap | Hot Hot Hoops recap)

Wizards 84, Nets 119 (Bullets Forever recap | Nets Daily recap)

Clippers 128, Rockets 118 (Clips Nation recap | The Dream Shake recap)

Bucks 109, Hornets 104 (At the Hive recap | Brewhoop recap)

Thunder 120, Hawks 117 ( Peachtree hoops recap | WTLC recap)

Nuggets 102, Trail Blazers 85 (Denver Stiffs recap | Blazers Edge recap)

Warriors 113, Lakers 106 (Silver Screen and Roll recap | Golden State of Mind recap)