Thunder rolls Spurs behind Durant and Jackson stellar show

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (centre) scores past San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (right) during their NBA match. Picture: USA TODAY SportsDPA/Los Angeles Reggie Jackson stepped up and stole some of the Thunder from white-hot Kevin Durant and Oklahoma City Thunder is back as the best in the West. League top gun Durant netted 36 points, Jackson added 13 of his career-high-tying 27 in the final quarter on Wednesday night, and the visiting Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs, 111-105 for their fifth straight win. “I just try to play within the flow of the offence and to be aggressive,” said Durant, after his ninth consecutive game of 30 or more points. “We just played defence and got stops when we needed to.” The Thunder (33-10) recorded their second impressive victory in as many nights after knocking off mighty Portland to move a half game ahead of the Spurs (32-10) atop the Western Conference. “This is not an easy back-to-back, playing two of the best teams in the West,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. “Nothing surprises me with this group. They come to play hard every night.” Brooks didn’t have any answers as to why his speedy guard Jackson is averaging 23.7 points in three games against San Antonio. “He’s had great games against the Spurs,” Brooks said. “I can’t put my finger on it other than we want him to play aggressive basketball.” Frenchman Tony Parker poured in a season-high 37 points, while Tim Duncan had 14 with 13 rebounds for the Spurs, who had won seven of its previous eight contests overall, but dropped to 0-3 this season against the Thunder. Phoenix Suns 124, Indiana Pacers 100Gerald Green scored 23 points, Slovenia’s Gordon Dragic added 21, and the host Suns snapped the league-best Pacers’ (33-8) five-game winning streak by equaling their worst beat-down of the season despite Paul George’s game-high 26. Bulls 98, Cavaliers 87D.J. Augustin scored 27 points, Taj Gibson added a career-high-tying 26, and the visiting Bulls improved to 7-2 since trading Luol Deng to the Cavs.  Kyrie Irving netted 26 points for Cleveland, but Deng had just 11 in his first game against his former club. Bobcats 95, LA Clippers 91Al Jefferson collected 24 points with 10 rebounds, and Gerald Henderson had the go-ahead dunk with 22.5 seconds left, as the Bobcats snapped a six-game slide against the visiting Clippers, who got a game-high 27 points from Blake Griffin. Hawks 112, Orlando Magic 109Paul Millsap scored 24 points, Macedonia’s Pero Ancic hit two free throws with 22.8 seconds left, and the Hawks handed the Magic its 12th loss in the last 13 games after nearly blowing a 19-point third-quarter cushion. Victor Oladipo topped Orlando with 24 points. Raptors 93, Dallas Mavericks 85DeMar DeRozan dropped in a career-high 40 points, and the Raptors stormed from 21 down in the opening quarter to beat the visiting Mavericks, who rested German star Dirk Nowitzki. Celtics 113, Wizards 111 (OT)Gerald Wallace hit the game-winning layup with 2.5 seconds remaining in overtime, Jeff Green scored a season-high 39 points with eight triples, and the Celtics beat the Wizards to end a 10-game road losing streak with just their second win in the last 14 games overall. John Wall led the Wizards with 28 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his second career triple-double. 76ers 110, Knicks 106Evan Turner erupted for a career-high 34 points with 11 rebounds, and the visiting Sixers broke a three-game slide while sending the Knicks to their fifth straight loss despite Carmelo Anthony’s 28 points. Rockets 119, Kings 98Dwight Howard had 26 points with 13 rebounds, James Harden scored 24, and the host Rockets took advantage of injuries to the Kings’ top scorers for their third straight win. The Kings lost Rudy Gay to a left Achilles tendon strain in the opening quarter, and DeMarcus Cousins to a left ankle sprain in the second frame. Bucks 104, Pistons 101Caron Butler scored 30 points, and the league-worst Bucks (8-33) ended a nine-game losing streak after edging the visiting Pistons, who also received 30 from Brandon Jennings.