Kevin Durant scored 36 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder fought off the Orlando Magic for a 125-124 win on Thursday and their fourth straight NBA victory.
Russell Westbrook added 32 in his fourth career triple-double.
Westbrook also had 13 assists and 10 rebounds in Oklahoma City’s highest-scoring game of the season. It was the second straight game the Thunder set a season-high for points in regulation and this time they even surpassed their output in a triple-overtime win against New Jersey.
PHOTO: AFP
Dwight Howard led Orlando with 39 points and 18 rebounds, but the Magic, who had been surging following some big trades that overhauled the roster, could not sustain a fourth-quarter comeback.
Orlando had trimmed a 12-point deficit to 111-110 midway through the final period, thanks to a 14-5 scoring run that included J.J. Redick’s three three-pointers in three attempts.
The Magic got within two points three times in the final minute.
Durant, determined to hold off the challenge, scored Oklahoma City’s final six points, hitting all four of his free throws and connecting with a basket over Hedo Turkoglu with 8.1 seconds remaining.
NUGGETS 130, HEAT 102
In Denver, J.R. Smith scored 28 points off the bench, hitting eight three-pointers, leading Denver to a comfortable win over a Miami team missing LeBron James.
Carmelo Anthony added 21 as the Nuggets kept up the form that saw them dismantle Phoenix by 34 points two days previously.
Chris Bosh scored 24 points for the Heat, who conceded the most points they have all season.
James sat out after spraining his left ankle the night before in a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said James would try to be available to play today in Chicago.
TIMBERWOLVES 109, WIZARDS 97
In Minneaplolis, Minnesota’s victory kept Washington winless on the road this season.
Kevin Love had 35 points and 11 rebounds and Darko Milicic had 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who trailed by four with 5:46 to play, but closed the game with a 19-1 surge to snap a five-game losing streak.
Love scored eight points during the run, making up for the absence of Michael Beasley, who was out with a sprained ankle.
John Wall had 14 points and 10 assists for the Wizards, who fell to 0-19 on the road. They are the only team in the NBA that has yet to win away from home this season.
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