Oklahoma City Thunder: Winning at Denver is never easy, even more so when Nuggets are hot

Meanwhile, OKC suddenly started to run hot and cold — a loss, followed by a win, followed by a loss, etc. — and went 4-4 over its next eight games.

Four straight wins were followed by three straight losses, which have been followed by three straight wins, which brings us to Friday's nationally televised (ESPN) 9:30 p.m. contest at Pepsi Center.

The Nuggets (37-22) have gone 12-4 since that overtime victory over the Thunder (42-15), which has since gone 10-6.

Denver is hot and Westbrook is still Westbrook.

“I'm sure the next time we'll have some locker room talk,” Karl said of Westbrook back on Jan. 20. “I saw him block the shot and then he threw the ball into the crowd. I know in the rule book it says you're not allowed to throw the ball into the crowd.”

Westbrook was not fined or disciplined.

Denver still flies high at home and owns a 24-3 record at Pepsi Center, second only to the 25-3 world champion Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena.

While Durant (28.6) and Westbrook (23.1) remain the NBA's top scoring tandem, the Nuggets counter with an attack that has six players scoring in double-digits and nine players ranging from 8.0 points to 16.9 points.

Denver's defense feeds its offense. The Nuggets are second in rebounding, second in steals, third in scoring, third in assists, fourth in blocks and fifth in opponent turnovers.