DURANT PROPELS THUNDER WITH DOUBLE-DOUBLE
oklahoma city» Kevin Durant had 29 points and 10 rebounds and the Thunder, helped when Dallas sat out its usual starters, beat the Mavericks 10889 on Wednesday night.
Thunder star Russell Westbrook was ejected in the second quarter after getting his second technical foul following skirmishes with J.J. Barea. Westbrook went scoreless but had had eight assists and seven rebounds in 14 minutes.
With the Mavericks on the second night of a back-to-back after an overtime loss to Cleveland on Tuesday, Dallas coach Rick Carlisle chose not to play his five regular starters — Dirk Nowitzki, Wesley Matthews, Chandler Parsons, Deron Williams and Zaza Pachulia.
WEDNESDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
Kemba Walker scored 23 points and the Hornets pulled away in the second half to beat the Hawks 107-84 and stop a sevengame losing streak. Cody Zeller added 19 points and 10 rebounds. … John Wall scored 19 points and backcourt mate Bradley Beal had 11 in his return from injury to help the Wizards beat the Bucks 106-101. Beal came off the bench and played 22 minutes in his first game since Dec. 9. … Brook Lopez scored 20 points, Thaddeus Young had 19 points and 11 rebounds, and the Nets ended their 10-game home losing streak with a 110-104 victory over the Knicks. … Isaiah Thomas scored 28 points, Jae Crowder matched his career high with 25 and the Celtics snapped a fourgame losing streak with a 103-94 win over the Pacers. Amir Johnson had a season-high 18 rebounds and scored 14 points for the Celtics. … James Harden had 27 points and 11 assists and the Rockets got their season-high fifth straight win, 107-104 over the Timberwolves. Minnesota had a chance to tie it just before the buzzer, but Kevin Martin’s 3-point attempt missed. … Eric Gordon scored 24 points and the Pelicans beat the Kings 109-97. Damian Lillard had 21 points and 10 assists to accompany seven rebounds and the Trail Blazers defeated the Jazz 99-85.
FOOTNOTES
Jordan’s streak ends with illness. Clippers center DeAndre Jordan was scratched against Miami because of pneumonia, ending the NBA’s longest active consecutive games streak at 360. … Goran Dragic of the Heat will miss at least three games with a strained left calf and was sent home from the team’s road trip.