Kevin Durant posted a triple-double as the
Oklahoma City Thunder won their eighth game in the past 10 with a 107-94
victory on Thursday over the Atlanta Hawks.
Forward Durant shot eight-of-14 from the
field en route to 25 points, and added 10 assists and 12 rebounds in front of
18,200 fans at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
"I just try to play the game and make
it simple for myself," Durant said.
"I knew last time they expected me to
be aggressive and score every time I got the ball. So I just tried to switch the
game up. Get Serge (Ibaka) open; get Russ (Westbrook) shots; get Steven (Adams)
shots.
"I think it's contagious when your top
guys do that. Russ did a great job of setting the tone."
Forward Ibaka had 23 points and 10
rebounds. Guard Westbrook finished with 23 points, 10 assists and six rebounds
for Oklahoma City, who were coming off a 125-88 rout of the Memphis Grizzlies.
It was the first time Westbrook and Durant
each had at least 20 points and 10 assists as the Thunder displayed the offence
they hope makes them a Western Conference title contender.
Guard Kent Bazemore came off the Atlanta
bench to score 22 points on seven-of-11 shooting. Jeff Teague scored 18 points
for the Hawks, but forward Paul Millsap was held to seven points and eight
rebounds.
"They have good players," Millsap
said. "When we make a run, they have players that can fill up the stat
sheet and stop those runs. I think we did a great job of competing and getting
back in the game. But we have good players too, and we have to find a way to
get over that hump."
Atlanta began the season 7-1 but have
dragged through a 5-9 lull.
Elsewhere, the Chicago Bulls protected a
fourth-quarter lead and ended a three-game losing streak with an 83-80 win over
the Los Angeles Clippers at the United Center arena.
The Clippers dropped to 13-10 as they had a
three-game win streak snapped. Los Angeles, who had won five consecutive games
against Chicago at home, shot a season-low 34.1 per cent from the field.
Forward Pau Gasol scored 24 points to lead
four Bulls in double-figures. Forward Blake Griffin, who was ejected with 5:59
left in the third for a flagrant foul, led the Clippers with 18 points and 11
rebounds.
Andrea Bargnani scored 13 of his
season-high 23 points during the fourth quarter, helping Brooklyn Nets to
survive a challenge from Philadelphia and win 100-91.
Centre DeMarcus Cousins finished with 27
points and 11 rebounds, guard Rajon Rondo added 16 points, 12 assists and nine
rebounds, and the Sacramento Kings held off a furious rally by the New York
Knicks for a 99-97 win.
Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony finished
with 23 points, his best output in four games for New York, but he missed a
three-pointer from the top of the arc that would have won it. Anthony appeared
to be fouled on the play.
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