Oklahoma City Thunder notebook: Sales brisk for Thunder alternate uniform

Game night sales were 40 percent higher Friday than on an average night. The arena merchandise shop will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday, plus during that night's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Thunder All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook, one of the league's fashion trendsetters, said he approved of the alternates. “They look nice, man,” Westbrook said. “A nice blue, navy blue. It's a nice uniform. I like it.”

In a NewsOK.com survey, however, 58.5 percent of voters did not approve of the alternates.

“You're going to have people who like them and people who don't, but I'm pretty sure they're going to get the jersey,” Westbrook said. “Somebody's going to get it. They're different, and that's one thing about an alternate. You want to switch the colors up, make it look a little different, and that's what they did.”

Three-time scoring champion Kevin Durant said he was ready for something new.

“Been putting on the same uniform for five years, you know,” Durant said with a smile. “So a different look, I guess, is always good. I like that the ‘Thunder' (lettering is vertical). Navy blue is a big change from the orange and blue, so I like them.”

The Thunder Girls also wore a new navy blue uniform for the Pistons game.

SERGE'S SURGE

Thunder power forward Serge Ibaka has sizzled offensively the last four games, averaging 19.3 points while shooting 31 of 46 (. 674) and 14 of 15 (. 933) from the free-throw line.

He had a career-high 25 points against the Pistons, which gave him the first back-to-back 20-point games of his career following a 21-point effort at Chicago on Thursday night.