Thunder hold solo NBA lead
OKLAHOMA CITY—NBA scoring leader Kevin Durant netted 33 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to spark Oklahoma City past Houston, 117-86, Sunday, giving the Thunder a league-best record of 25-5.
Reggie Jackson, playing in place of the injured Thunder star guard Russell Westbrook, scored 16 points and passed out a game-high eight assists and Thabo Sefolosha added 13 points for Oklahoma City.
The Rockets, who fell to 21-12, were led by 17 points from reserve guard Aaron Brooks and 15 each from Chandler Parsons and reserve Omri Casspi.
Dwight Howard managed only nine points and nine rebounds as Houston fell behind 1614 after the first quarter and were blitzed in the second half.
Durant produced his seventh 30-point and 10-rebound effort of the season as the Thunder won at home for the 14th time in 15 tries in their first game this season against Houston.
Westbrook is not expected to return until after the NBA All-Star Game in February after right knee surgery.
Manu Ginobili had a season-high 28 points to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 112-104 win over the Sacramento Kings.
Ginobili, who had 10 crucial fourth-quarter points, was 9-for-16 from the field and hit four 3-pointers for San Antonio (24-7).
Center DeMarcus Cousins led the Kings with 29 points and 14 rebounds, and, along with newly acquired guard Rudy Gay and point guard Isaiah Thomas, combined for 80 of the Kings’ 104 points.
Stephen Curry had 29 points, nine rebounds and 11 assists in the Golden State Warriors’ 108-104 overtime victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Curry recorded a triple-double against Phoenix on Friday and his follow-up effort gave theWarriors (19-13) a fifth straight win.
The Cavs (10-20) have now lost five in a row despite 27 points from Kyrie Irving who buried a clutch 3-pointer with 9.5 seconds left tin regulation that sent the game to OT.
Thaddeus Young led the way with 25 points and the Philadelphia 76ers ended a 13-game skid on the road, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers, 111-104.
The Sixers (9-21) also handed the Lakers (13-18) a season-high fifth straight defeat.
Arron Afflalo had 20 points and all five Orlando Magic starters reached double figures in scoring as the Magic outlasted the Atlanta Hawks, 109-102.