ATLANTA (AP) ― Oklahoma City’s biggest stars displayed a unique version of balanced scoring against Atlanta: Russell Westbrook led the Thunder in the first half and Kevin Durant dominated the Hawks over the final two quarters.
Durant set a season high with 41 points and Oklahoma City held off Atlanta 100-92 on Wednesday night for its 12th straight win.
Westbrook had 27 points ― 21 in the first half ― and 11 assists. Durant scored 28 points in the second half, including 18 in the fourth, and also had 13 rebounds.
Indiana Pacers forward Paul George dunks against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday. (AP-Yonhap News)
No other Oklahoma City player scored in double figures.
“There’s going to be nights where one has the hot hand and there’s going to be other nights the other does,” said Thunder coach Scott Brooks.
Both top scorers were hot against the Hawks. Durant made six of nine shots in the final period, including three 3-pointers, and the Hawks couldn’t find a way to slow the 6-foot-9 forward.
“We double-teamed him, we zoned him,” said Hawks coach Larry Drew. “He still made shots. You can’t stop him when he’s hot like that.”
Durant said Westbrook’s strong first half helped open more opportunities for him after the break.
“He was aggressive and they were giving him jump shots,” Durant said. “We just played off of that. He was very good and it opened up for me in the second half.”
Durant acknowledged he launched some “questionable” shots. “But my teammates wanted me to do it,” he said.
Jeff Teague led Atlanta with 19 points, Josh Smith had 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Al Horford and Lou Williams scored 13 apiece.
Durant was especially strong after Atlanta cut a 16-point deficit midway through the third quarter to 73-69.
Durant slowed Atlanta’s comeback attempt when he dominated a sequence on both ends of the floor, blocking a shot by Smith before throwing down a jam. Smith drew a foul and Durant sank the free throw to push the lead to 85-75.
With about 3 minutes remaining, Durant hit a fallaway jumper. Less than a minute late, he made a spin move and then sank a 3-pointer over the 6-foot-7 Kyle Korver, who was left shaking his head.
“He’s just one of those players,” Korver said. “People don’t understand how tall he is and how long his arms are.”
Knicks pull away vs. Nets
NEW YORK (AP) ― Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks know they can’t entirely dismiss the rivalry talk, not with the Nets just a few miles away.
On the court and in the standings, the distance keeps growing.
Anthony scored 31 points in his return to the lineup, and New York beat Brooklyn 100-86 on Wednesday night in the third meeting this season between the city rivals.
After two tight games in Brooklyn, the Knicks turned the first one at Madison Square Garden into a rout by dominating the second half. Anthony, who missed two games with a sprained left ankle, moved fine and shot well, though his scoring average against the Nets this season actually dropped to 37 points per game.
“At the end of the day, these are statement games, these are big games, divisional games,” Anthony said. “They’re right across the bridge, so these games definitely mean a lot.”
J.R. Smith added 19 points and Tyson Chandler had 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Knicks, who bounced back from their first home loss Monday against Jeremy Lin and Houston, improving to 11-1 at MSG.
Chandler scored 12 on 6-of-8 shooting in the second half.
“I just wanted to close the game. I wanted to make a statement,” Chandler said. “Tonight was a big game for us, a game in our division, an opportunity to gain a full game as far as the lead goes, and we have to make statements like that.”
Joe Johnson scored 17 points for the Nets, who have lost three straight and eight of 10. What once was a deadlock for the Atlantic Division lead after the first meeting is now a six-game advantage for the Knicks.
Toronto 97, Detroit 91
Orlando 90, Washington 83
Indiana 104, Utah 84
Boston 103, Cleveland 91
Houston 125, Philadelphia 103
Phoenix 121, Charlotte 104
Memphis 90, Milwaukee 80
Sacramento 131, Golden St. 127
LA Clippers 93, New Orleans 77
koreaherald@heraldcorp.com
