Kevin Durant's return hasn't vaulted the Thunder back to the top of the Western Conference, but that doesn't mean it won't happen.
Case in point: Sunday night's 98-95 win over the Kings. Durant scored 20 points, accounting for the game's final four points that included a go-ahead jumper with 23 seconds left to secure the win.
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Durant wasn't perfect — he had 10 turnovers — but he was present. Last season, teams could collapse on Russell Westbrook with Durant out due to injury. Not so this season.
And what about Westbrook? He had another triple-double (19 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists) Sunday, his 14th since the start of last season and second this year. Only Kings guard Rajon Rondo (four), who was held to seven points in the loss, and the Warriors' Draymond Green (three) have more this season.
The Thunder (12-8) also got help from their supporting cast as Enes Kanter (14 points, 10 rebounds), Serge Ibaka (12 points) and Dion Waiters (10 points) all stepped up offensively.
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Oklahoma City may not be back to contender status just yet, like in 2013-14 when Durant won MVP and the Thunder made the conference finals, but with three quarters of the season still remaining, they've got plenty of time to move forward.
Stud of the night
Two nights after saying he "sucked," Mavericks forward Wesley Matthews went all the way off in a 116-104 win against the Wizards. Matthews hit 10 of 17 from the 3-point line on his way to a 36-point field day, adding six rebounds and five assists.
Dud of the night
Why is Kobe Bryant doing this to himself? Why is he doing it to us? Bryant's numbers were just plain ugly again Sunday as hit on only 2 of 15 field-goal attempts for five points as the Lakers fell 111-91 to the Pistons.
Tweet of the night
It doesn't look like Larry Bird is trying to give up the belt to Stephen Curry just yet.
Larry Bird on Dan Patrick Show when asked who was a better clutch shooter between Bird and Steph Curry: "Dan. (Long pause.) Come on man. "
— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) December 7, 2015Looking ahead
Wizards (8-10) at Heat (12-6), 7:30 p.m.: The big question is whether John Wall's right leg will keep him out against the Heat. Wall injured his leg in the fourth quarter of his team's loss to the Mavs on Sunday.