Kevin Durant’s 30-plus scoring streak ended, but he still played a key role as a sharp-shooting Oklahoma City beat the Brooklyn Nets 120-95 on Friday to extend the Thunder’s winning run to 10 games and boost their NBA lead.
Durant had passed 30 points in 12 straight games, but was rested for the entire fourth quarter and settled for 26 as the Thunder moved four games clear of the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference.
Elsewhere, Atlanta had seven players in double figures to cruise past Philadelphia, Memphis continued their strong form by beating Minnesota and Toronto won at Denver for the first time in 11 years.
Photo: AFP
Durant, the NBA’s leading scorer, finished 10 of 12 from the field, though his scoring average during his sensational month dropped from 36.6 to 35.9.
Serge Ibaka made all 12 shots, while adding 25 points and nine rebounds for the Thunder, who shot 63.6 percent, the highest in the NBA this season, and out-rebounded Brooklyn 41-17.
Shaun Livingston scored 16 points for the Nets while drawing the unenviable assignment of defending Durant.
Photo: AFP
Atlanta’s Mike Scott and Elton Brand scored 18 points apiece as the Hawks routed the Philadelphia 76ers 125-99.
Thaddeus Young scored 29 points for the Sixers, who have dropped 11 of their past 13 home games, including five straight for the first time in four years.
Memphis’ Zach Randolph had 26 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Grizzlies to a tight 94-90 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Courtney Lee added 16 points for the Grizzlies, who have won 10 of their past 11, including six straight on the road, to work their way back into strong playoff contention.
Kevin Love shook off the pain from a sore left ankle to lead Minnesota with 28 points and 16 rebounds.
The Toronto Raptors won 100-90 to notch their first win at the Denver Nuggets since 2003, having lost on their previous nine visits.
DeMar DeRozan scored 19 points and Terrence Ross had 18 for the Raptors, who moved four games clear of Brooklyn at the top of the Atlantic Division.
The Nuggets announced during the game that guard Nate Robinson had season-ending surgery earlier on Friday to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
J.J. Hickson and Evan Fournier led Denver with 18 points apiece.
Golden State’s Stephen Curry made eight three-pointers in scoring a season-high 44 points, leading the Warriors past the Utah Jazz 95-90.
Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki scored 34 points to guide the Mavericks to a 107-103 win over the Sacramento Kings, who lost a sixth straight.
Charlotte’s Al Jefferson tied a career high with 40 points, 16 of them in the fourth quarter, and grabbed 18 rebounds to give the Bobcats a 110-100 win over Los Angeles and condemn the floundering Lakers to a sixth straight defeat.
The Orlando Magic ran past the Milwaukee Bucks 113-102 in a clash of the league’s two worst teams, with Arron Afflalo scoring 21 points.
MARRED FINAL: As most of Senegalese players walked off the pitch after a controversial decision, some supporters threw objects and attempted to get onto the pitch Senegal on Sunday won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as Pape Gueye’s extra-time winner sunk hosts Morocco 1-0 after a chaotic final that saw the eventual champions storm off the pitch late in the game. Brahim Diaz could have won the trophy for Morocco with a controversial spot-kick in the 24th minute of added time at the end of normal time as ugly scenes broke out in the stands. However, Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy easily saved the weak attempted “Panenka” chip by the Real Madrid winger, who was clearly distracted by the long delay that followed the penalty award.
James Harden on Friday scored 31 points and came up big in overtime to help the Los Angeles Clippers erase a double-digit deficit on the way to a 121-117 NBA victory over the Toronto Raptors. Harden scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Clippers pushed their wining steak to five games despite the absence of star Kawhi Leonard with a sprained right ankle. The Clippers trailed by 11 entering the fourth quarter, but Harden drilled a pair of free-throws with 1:24 left in regulation to tie it and after misses from both teams, they went to
Tobias Harris on Monday scored 25 points as the Detroit Pistons held off the Boston Celtics to score a 104-103 victory in their top-of-the-table Eastern Conference showdown. Harris was one of four Detroit players to finish in double figures, with Jalen Duren adding 18 points and point guard Cade Cunningham scoring 16 points with 14 assists. The win sees Detroit extend their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference to 31-10, 5.5 games ahead of second-placed Boston, who fell to 26-16 with the defeat. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics scoring with 32 points and almost snatched victory in the
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