18 -- A season-high scoring total for Kurt Thomas tonight. He also had eight rebounds, and had to have five more stitches after getting popped in the mouth again. But he returned to finish the game in the fourth quarter in Seattle’s 99-88 win over Minnesota.

7-- The number of double-doubles for Chris Wilcox, who finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds and three steals. It was also Wilcox’s fourth double-double in seven games.

15 -- The combined number of assists for Luke Ridnour (13 points, 7 assists and Earl Watson (six points, eight assists), as both have played well the last two games.

7-- Seattle shooting percentage from the 3-point line (1-of-14).

21 -- Seattle forced 21 turnovers, turning the miscues into 26 points.

Boxscore -- Check it out here.

Durant watch -- One word – ugly. Durant shot a horrid 4-of-17 from the floor, and finished with a head-shaking eight turnovers, a day after setting The Garden on fire.

“He couldn’t hang onto the ball and he couldn’t shoot it. He had a very tough night,” Seattle coach P.J. Carlesimo said about Durant.

Did you see that? -- You may have turned off the TV already but Kurt Thomas managed to get high enough off the ground and got his first dunk of the season late in the game off a pass from Ridnour.

"I kind of got up there," Thomas quipped. "That was really for my teammates. They’ve kind of wanted me to dunk all year. And I was fortunate enough that no one was around me, and I was able to get up there and put one down."

Overheard -- Thomas had to have the inside of his mouth stitched again, five in all, when he got popped in the head in the third quarter. Thomas has been taking some heat from his teammates for the appearance of his swollen lip the past week.

Asked how his lip is, Thomas said, “Beautiful.”

Thomas said he took a lot of abuse for his swollen lip by teammates, mostly from Delonte West and Wilcox and Damien Wilkins, but wouldn’t divulge any of the nicknames he’s been called the past week.

"They’ve all got their two cents in," Thomas said.

Final take -- Seattle did what it is supposed to do, which is beat a team you’re supposed to beat.

Kurt Thomas continues to show his value to this team, with his ability to score, defend and lead.

And Seattle’s guard play of late with Ridnour and Watson has been superb. I think having that stability at the point guard position has helped tighten up things with the rest of the team.

Defensively Seattle continues to play well, holding a team under 40 percent shooting for the sixth time this season.

Seattle can accomplish a couple things with a win at Utah on Saturday. It would be the team’s first three-game winning streak, and first winning road trip of the year if they can manage a win against the Jazz.

Listen to Carlesimo talk about the game here. Thomas explains his swollen lip.

Luke Ridnour talks about his improved play here. And Earl Watson talks about sharing the point guard minutes with Luke.