Kevin Durant scored 28 points and Russell Westbrook contributed 17 points and 10 assists as the Oklahoma City Thunder stormed to a 102-74 home victory over the short-handed Orlando Magic on Sunday.
“That was about as good as we could possibly play,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks told reporters before adding he felt strong ball movement — Oklahoma accumulated 27 assists — had helped contribute to the dominant performance.
Guard Thabo Sefolosha added 13 points and 10 rebounds, with center Nenad Krstic scoring 14 points despite dislocating a finger on his left hand.
Krstic made four of five shots in the first quarter, then scored six more once he returned after having the finger treated.
His shooting forced Magic center Dwight Howard to move outside to challenge him, while the rest of the team gave him time to make his shots.
“Nenad can keep him on the defensive end and come out and space the floor out and he [Krstic] shot the ball well,” Brooks said. “We were doing a great job of finding him and setting screens for him.”
Orlando (5-2) were without injured shooting guard Vince Carter and power forward Ryan Anderson, as well as suspended forward Rashard Lewis, and shot only 36.8 percent from the floor. Howard top scored with 20 points.
“This team just doesn’t play very hard,” Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. “We’re a white-collar team right now and those kinds of teams won’t win on the road or when you’re not shooting well.”
The Thunder built a 53-44 halftime lead and then increased the margin to 22 points in the third quarter, during which they outscored the Magic 26-13.
Oklahoma City (3-3) led by as many as 33 points in the fourth quarter, forcing an exasperated Van Gundy to shout “Play some defense!” at his team.
SUNS 102, WIZARDS 90
At Washington, Jason Richardson scored 22 points and Steve Nash had 17 assists as Phoenix maintained their dominance of Washington with a 102-90 victory on Sunday.
The Suns never trailed in the second half as they beat the Wizards for the sixth straight time. Washington last defeated Phoenix nearly three years ago.
Phoenix improved to six wins and a loss, matching the best seven-game start in franchise history. The Wizards have lost four straight.
TRAIL BLAZERS 116, T’WOLVES 93
At Portland, Oregon, Andre Miller scored 21 points and LaMarcus Aldridge and Travis Outlaw each had 19 as Portland built and held a big first-half lead to beat Minnesota.
Miller, acquired last summer by Portland, scored 12 points during the third quarter. Aldridge, who had only 12 free throw attempts during the Trail Blazers’ first six games, was 9-for-9, and also grabbed 10 rebounds. Outlaw scored 12 of his 19 points during the second half.
Portland moved to within a game of first-place Denver in the Pacific Division.
PISTONS 88, 76ERS 81
At Auburn Hills, Michigan, Ben Gordon scored 23 points and Ben Wallace added 16 rebounds for the Pistons, who held Philadelphia without a field goal for the last six minutes.
In other NBA action, it was:
• Lakers 104, Hornets 88
• Kings 120, Warriors 107
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