Westbrook powers Thunder over Cavaliers

Agencies/New York

Since the return of All-Stars Westbrook (broken right hand) and Durant (off-season foot surgery), the Thunder has won four straight and six of its last seven games following a dismal 3-12 start.

James sat out his first game of the season after being held out for precautionary reasons because of left knee soreness.

Kyrie Irving led Cleveland (13-8) with 20 points, Kevin Love added 18 with 16 rebounds and Tristan Thompson contributed 14 and 13 boards.

The Cavs trailed by 20 just 90 seconds into the final frame but went on an 18-4 run to pull within 95-91 on a Thompson tip-in with two minutes left to play.

However, Durant came big. The reigning league most valuable player reeled of all eight of his team’s final eight points, with a driving dunk, fade-away jumper, two free throws and a layup to seal the win in front of the sold out Chesapeake Energy Arena crowd.

Elsewhere, league top scorer James Harden’s triple sent the game into overtime, then added 12 of his season-high 44 points in the extra session, including a pair of game-sealing free throws with 7.1 seconds left, rallying the visiting Rockets to a 113-109 victory over the Kings.

Patrick Beverley and Trevor Ariza had 15 points apiece for Houston (17-5) which made 15-of-44 from behind the arc en route to its eighth win in the last 10 games.

Darren Collison netted 24, Ben McLemore added 21 for Sacramento (11-12), which coughed up a 10-point, fourth-quarter lead and fell for the seventh time in the last nine games.

Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers officially acquired forward Andrei Kirilenko from the Brooklyn Nets in a trade involving three players Thursday.

The Nets received forward Brandon Davies and the 76ers also acquired guard Jorge Gutierrez, the Nets’ second-round draft pick in 2020 and cash considerations.

The Brooklyn Nets signed guard Darius Morris on Thursday.

Morris played for the Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers and Memphis Grizzlies last season after spending his first two seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. He has career averages of 3.7 points and 1.5 assists per game.

Kirilenko, who fell out of favor with Nets coach Lionel Hollins, is attending to a family matter in the New York area that could limit his willingness to travel until sometime in February or March, sources said.

Kirilenko has had a decorated NBA and international basketball career. He was an All-Star for the Utah Jazz in 2004 and made the first-team All-Defense team in 2006. In 12 NBA seasons, he’s played with the Jazz, Minnesota Timberwolves and Nets.