Thunder-Nuggets quoteboard — Kenyon Martin: ‘Styles make basketball games.'

Reserve guard J.R. Smith: "They have a great bench. We have a great bench. I think that's definitely the key in our series."

Coach George Karl: "I think he's an all-defensive player. Arron Afflalo should be on some type of all-defensive team. (Following the Feb. 22 trade involving Carmelo Anthony) He was a major factor to developing a team with defensive reads and a commitment that is pretty good."

Afflalo on the Thunder: "They've just been hungry and confident. That's a mental approach. That's not them being a better basketball team or us being a better basketball team. When you're hungry and you want to win and you're playing with confidence and playing together, I don't care whose floor you're on. You're going to win the game. And that can change in a snap of a finger."

Karl: "Wish we could play tonight. What's there to not feel good about? We get an opportunity to re-prove ourselves, re-identify who we are. I think we're getting smarter. I think we're doing tactically a little better, and we get the homecourt in our pocket."

Afflalo: "I plan on playing for the rest of the year."