Kevin Durant scored a game-high 30 points,
including the game-winner with 38.9 seconds to go, as the Oklahoma City
Thunder edged the Los Angeles Clippers, 83-79.
Jeff Green added 13 points and five rebounds for the Thunder, who have won two
of three after a three-game skid. Kevin Ollie ended with 11 points and five
boards off the bench. Nenad Krstic finished with 10 points for the victors.
"We had a great effort. Everyone stepped up. Kevin Durant is a special player.
He competed at both ends of the floor," Thunder head coach Scott Brooks said.
Chris Kaman tallied 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers, who have lost
two straight after a three-game winning streak. Baron Davis had 17 points,
nine assists and seven rebounds. Al Thornton finished with 15 points and nine
boards in defeat.
"We missed shots. We shot only 35 percent for the game. We missed too many
opportunities," Clippers head coach Mike Dunleavy said.
The Thunder opened the fourth quarter with a 12-2 run to take the lead. Green
started the spurt with a trey and ended it with a layup to put Oklahoma City
ahead 78-71 with 5:42 to play.
Down by five, the Clippers used a Kaman hook shot and a trio of free throws by
Thornton to tie the tilt at 79 with just under 1 1/2 minutes remaining.
Durant's jumper gave the Thunder an 81-79 lead with 38.9 seconds left. On the
ensuing LA possession, Kaman turned the ball over as he tried to go baseline
for a layup.
Ollie missed a three-pointer at the other end, but was able to get his own
rebound. Marcus Camby fouled Ollie, who made a pair of foul shots to seal the
victory.
The game was tied at 22 moving to the second and things remained tight
throughout the half. A Camby layup and a Kaman hook shot gave LA a 48-43 lead
at the break.
The Clippers maintained close to a five-point margin during the third stanza
and took a 69-66 edge into the fourth.
Game Notes
Oklahoma City shot 42.2 percent from the field, while Los Angeles made just
35.9 percent of its shots...The Clippers won three of four meetings with the
Thunder last season...Durant also pulled down 10 rebounds in the win.
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