The Oklahoma City Thunder eased to a 108-90 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, Kevin Durant leading the way for the much-improved franchise with 33 points and 12 rebounds.
The 21-year-old forward made 10 of 21 shots and drained 12 free throws as the Thunder (9-7) notched their ninth victory around two months earlier than last season, when they finished a lowly 23-59.
“[Durant] can score at so many different spots,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks told reporters. “All I want him to do is make plays, whether he is scoring or setting up his teammates.”
In an intriguing matchup of two prospects, Durant came out on top as Bucks rookie Brandon Jennings struggled on 3-for-11 shooting for 12 points in 30 minutes.
Milwaukee trailed by just one point at halftime but went scoreless for more than six minutes at the start of the third to fall well behind and eventually drop their third straight game.
The victory was the second in a row for Oklahoma City, who also got 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds from guard Russell Westbrook.
Coming off an impressive 104-94 road victory over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday, the Thunder delivered another strong effort in the start of a five-game homestand.
Nestled among the NBA leaders in scoring, Durant scored 13 first-quarter points to spark his team to an early lead and Oklahoma City broke things open in the fourth.
After Milwaukee pulled within 10 points with 9:08 left the Thunder put the game away with a 16-2 run.
Jeff Green added 17 points for Oklahoma City, one of the youngest teams in the NBA, and rookie James Harden made a trio of three-pointers and finished with 15 points.
Carlos Delfino and Hakim Warrick tied for a team-high 15 points for the Bucks who shot just 37 percent from the field and have slumped after a fast start to the year.
“We couldn’t make any shots,” said Jennings, who leads all rookies in scoring.
Milwaukee guard Michael Redd continued his poor play in his third game back from a knee injury that sidelined him for nine games. He had eight points on 3-for-9 shooting.
CELTICS 116, RAPTORS 103
In Boston, the hosts opened a yawning five-and-a-half game gap over Toronto atop the NBA’s Atlantic Division with a victory over the Raptors on Friday.
Ray Allen scored 20 points for Boston, while Paul Pierce and Kendrick Perkins had 18 apiece.
The Celtics won three in a row for the first time since opening the season with six straight victories.
Toronto’s Chris Bosh had 20 points and 13 rebounds.
MAVERICKS 113, PACERS 92
In Indianapolis, Indiana, Dirk Nowitzki scored 31 points to lead Dallas over Indiana.
Nowitzki, who entered the night sixth in the NBA at 26.9 points per game, made 10 of 14 field goals and 11 of 13 free throws. Jason Terry scored 17 for the Mavericks, winners of five straight road games.
Indiana’s Danny Granger, who missed the previous game with a sprained knee ligament, finished with 20 points.
GRIZZLIES 106, TRAIL BLAZERS 96
In Portland, Oregon, Memphis withstood a second-half rally to hold off the hosts.
Zach Randolph scored 21 points and Marc Gasol and O.J. Mayo added 19 each for the Grizzlies, who led by 29 points during the first half but saw that cut to eight during the fourth quarter.
Brandon Roy had 26 points, nine assists and eight rebounds for the Blazers.
BOBCATS 94, CAVALIERS 87
In Charlotte, North Carolina, Gerald Wallace had 31 points and 14 rebounds while outplaying LeBron James and leading Charlotte over Cleveland.
The surprising Bobcats won their third straight game following a seven-game losing streak, mostly thanks to Wallace, who beat James in numerous 1-on-1 matchups at the post. Wallace topped 30 points for the second straight game, while James scored 25.
The Cavaliers looked disjointed in Shaquille O’Neal’s return from a shoulder injury. O’Neal missed five of his first seven shots and finished with 11 points and eight rebounds. Cleveland fell to 6-4 when he plays and 5-1 when he’s out.
HAWKS 100, 76ERS 86
In Philadelphia, Jamal Crawford scored 11 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter to lead Atlanta past the home team.
Mike Bibby added 21 for the Hawks, who responded with a road win a day after struggling in a loss to Orlando.
Thaddeus Young scored 22 points for the out-of-touch Sixers, who have dropped five in a row.
SPURS 92, ROCKETS 84
In Houston, Texas, Tim Duncan and Antonio McDyess recorded double-doubles as San Antonio notched its first road win of the season at Texas rival Houston.
Tony Parker had 19 points and seven assists, and the San Antonio Spurs earned their first road win of the season.
Duncan had 21 points and 12 rebounds, and McDyess added 15 points and 14 boards. Tony Parker had 19 points and seven assists.
For the Rockets, Luis Scola had 18 points and 12 rebounds.
Houston shot just 36 percent from the field and had a season-low point total.
NUGGETS 128, KNICKS 125
In Denver, Carmelo Anthony scored a career-high 50 points as Denver edged New York in a thriller. The win was the Nuggets’ 17th straight regular-season home victory.
Al Harrington had 41 points for the Knicks, who lost their fourth straight. Anthony scored 13 points in the third quarter, helping the Nuggets take a 92-87 lead into the final period.
In other NBA action, it was:
• Wizards 94, Heat 84
• Suns 120, Timberwolves 95
• Clippers 104, Pistons 96
• Kings 109, Nets 96
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