LOS ANGELES: Kevin Durant posted a triple double as the Oklahoma City Thunder won their eighth game in the last 10 with a 107-94 victory over the Atlanta Hawks Thursday.
Forward Durant shot eight-of-14 from the field en route to 25 points, and added 10 assists and 12 rebounds in front of a crowd of 18,200 at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
"I just try to play the game and make it simple for myself," Durant said.
"I knew last time they expected me to be aggressive and score every time I got the ball. So I just tried to switch the game up. Get Serge (Ibaka) open. Get Russ (Westbrook) shots. Get Steven (Adams) shots.
"I think it's contagious when your top guys do that. Russ did a great job of setting the tone."
Forward Ibaka had 23 points and 10 rebounds. Guard Westbrook finished with 23 points, 10 assists and six rebounds for Oklahoma City, who were coming off a 125-88 rout of the Memphis Grizzlies.
It was the first time Westbrook and Durant each had at least 20 points and 10 assists as the Thunder displayed the offence that they hope makes them a title contender in the Western Conference.
Guard Kent Bazemore came off the Atlanta bench to score 22 points on seven-of-11 shooting. Jeff Teague scored 18 points for the Hawks, but forward Paul Millsap was held to seven points and eight rebounds.
"They have good players," Millsap said. "When we make a run, they have players that can fill up the stat sheet and stop those runs. I think we did a great job of competing and getting back in the game. But we have good players too, and we have to find a way to get over that hump."
Atlanta began the season 7-1 but have now dragged through a 5-9 lull.
Elsewhere, the Chicago Bulls protected a fourth-quarter lead and ended a three-game losing streak with an 83-80 win over the Los Angeles Clippers at the United Center arena.
The Clippers dropped to 13-10 as they had a three-game win streak snapped. Los Angeles, who had won five consecutive games against Chicago at home, shot a season-low 34.1 percent from the field.
Forward Pau Gasol scored 24 points to lead four Bulls in double-figures. Forward Blake Griffin, who was ejected with 5:59 left in the third for a flagrant foul, led the Clippers with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Comments
Comments are closed.