Durant too hot for former teammates
OAKLAND, California (AP): GOLDEN STATE’S Kevin Durant thoroughly embarrassed his old Oklahoma City teammates by sinking seven three-pointers and scoring 39 points as the Warriors strolled to a 12296 win against the Thunder on Thursday.
Defeat for the Thunder left Cleveland as the NBA’s last unbeaten team, as LeBron James led the Cavaliers past Boston.
The highly anticipated clash of last year’s Western Conference Finals revolved around Durant, who had made the big-money move to the Warriors, and he rose to the occasion, with his seven three-pointers matching a career high.
Russell Westbrook was eager to show that he could lead Oklahoma City without Durant, but was held to just 20 points; 17.8 points below his season average.
Golden State’s Stephen Curry added 21 points while Klay Thompson rediscovered his three-point radar and hit four long shots as the Warriors notched a fourth straight win.
Reigning league champions Cleveland emerged as the new-season pacesetters by defeating Boston 128-122.
The Cavaliers have won their opening five games for the first time in 40 years.
LeBron James scored a season-high 30 points, edging within two points of passing Hakeem Olajuwon for 10th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Olajuwon had 26,946 points, a total James will likely surpass today in Philadelphia.
Kevin Love scored 26 points, also a season high, while Kyrie Irving added 23 for the Cavaliers, while Tristan Thompson recorded a double-double in the first half, finishing with 15 points and 14 rebounds.
Isaiah Thomas scored 30 points and Avery Bradley had 26 for the Celtics, who played without two starters: center Al Horford (concussion) and forward Jae Crowder (sprained left ankle).
Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker each had 27 points to lead the Bucks past Indiana 125-106.
Indiana had a brief surge in the fourth quarter, closing within nine points, but could get no closer and fell to 0-3 in road games.
Paul George scored 23 points for the Pacers.
Orlando won back-to-back games for the first time this season, as Evan Fournier scored 29 points in a 102-94 win against Sacramento.
An attempted 3-pointer by Nemanja Bjelica on the buzzer went in then out, allowing Denver to hang on for a 102-99 victory at Minnesota.