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The Oklahoma City Thunder led by Kevin Durant hasn’t missed a beat since losing All-Star guard Russell Westbrook. League top gun Durant had 33 points with 13 rebounds, while Jeremy Lamb scored a career-high 22 Sunday, and the Thunder steamrolled the visiting Houston Rockets 117-86 for its most-lopsided win of the season. |
“Kevin wants to fill the stat sheet up every night,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said of his All-Star forward who added five assists. “Kevin can probably score 35-40 points on demand but he wants to share the ball, he wants to defend, he wants to rebound. “He wants to inspire. He believes in his teammates. He’s a great player.”
Westbrook underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on Friday, his third since tearing his meniscus last April. But the Thunder has shrugged off the absence of its floor leader, who is expected to return after the All-Star break missing 27 games.
“We’re sorry to hear that Russell is out but we all said let’s come together as a team,” Lamb explained. “Its a team effort and I think we did that tonight.”
Reggie Jackson collected 16 points and eight assists in Westbrook’s place for league-best Oklahoma City (25-5), which shot a sizzling 57 per cent from the floor for its 20th win in the last 22 games, with Durant leading the way.
“Kevin does everything and that’s nothing new,” said teammate Theo Sefolosha, who contributed 13 points. Taking advantage of the weary Rockets, playing for the third time in four nights, the Thunder raced out to a 26-14 lead after one and 56-44 by halftime behind 19 points from Durant.
After the Rockets drew within nine early in the third quarter, Durant drilled two 3-pointers and Jackson added another in a 15-0 run, opening up a commanding 71-47 cushion.
Durant had 14 points in the period and the Thunder carried a 90-70 advantage into the final frame. The lead swelled to as many as 32 and the Rockets were dealt their worst loss of the season.
Aaron Brooks had 17 points but James Harden finished with just eight - 16 below his season average against his former team - as Houston (21-12), had its three-game winning streak snapped after shooting a frosty 36.5 per cent from the floor.
Elsewhere
Golden State Warriors 108, Cleveland Cavaliers 104 (OT):
Stephen Curry had 29 points, 11 assists, nine rebounds and the game-sealing jumper with 13.5 seconds left in overtime, sending the visiting Warriors past the visiting Cavaliers for their fifth straight victory. David Lee scored 19 before fouling out for the Warriors (19-13), who erased a 17-point first-half deficit en route to their sixth straight win in the series. Kyrie Irving netted 27 points, including the tying 3-pointer with 9.5 seconds left in regulation to knot the game at 99-apiece, but the Cavs (10-20)lost their fifth in a row.
Orlando Magic 109, Atlanta Hawks 102:
Arron Afflalo scored 21 points, Nikola Vucevic had 16 with 14 rebounds, and the host Magic (10-20) clipped the short-handed Hawks. Jeff Teague scored 22 points for Atlanta (17-14), coming off three consecutive overtime contests and playing its second game without All-Star Al Horford because of a torn right pectoral muscle.
San Antonio 112, Sacramento Kings 104:
Argentine ace Manu Ginobili scored 28 points, including back-to-back triples to trigger a 16-4 closing run, and the Spurs beat the visiting Kings for the 19th time in the last 20 meetings. Frenchman Tony Parker added 22 points while Tim Duncan had 17 and 13 rebounds for the Spurs (24-7), who outscored their guests 31-17 in the final quarter. DeMarcus Cousins topped Sacramento (9-20) with 29 points and 14 rebounds, while Isaiah Thomas scored 27.
Philadelphia 76ers 111, LA Lakers 104:
Thaddeus Young had 25 points with nine rebounds, Evan Turner scored 22, and the Sixers stopped their 13-game road slide while extending the Lakers’ skid to a season-high five.
Spencer Hawes had 19 points for Philadelphia (9-21) which improved to 2-13 away from home with just its second win overall in the last 11 outings.