Durant’s run ends in win
Kevin Durant’s 30-point streak ended at 12 games when he scored 26 in just 30 minutes, and the Oklahoma City Thunder won their 10th in a row with a 120-95 victory the Brooklyn Nets Friday night at Barclays Center in New York.
“That’s the most important streak,” Durant said about the victory.
Serge Ibaka made all 12 of his shots and added 25 points and nine rebounds for the Thunder, so good that Durant sat the entire fourth quarter, the only way to slow him down right now.
Coach Scott Brooks didn’t bother asking the NBA’s leading scorer if he wanted to keep playing to extend the streak, saying he knew what the answer would be.
“If he cared about the streak, he should’ve never missed the two shots. That’s on him. Can’t blame it on me,” Brooks said.
The NBA’s leading scorer finished 10 of 12 from the field, though his scoring average in his sensational January dropped from 36.6 to 35.9.
Oklahoma City shot 63.6 percent, highest in the NBA this season, and outrebounded Brooklyn, 41-17.
Shaun Livingston scored 16 points while drawing the impossible assignment of defending Durant for the Nets, who dropped their final two games to finish 10-3 in January.
They started the month by holding Durant to 24 points in a victory at Oklahoma City, but Brooklyn was never in this game.
Reggie Jackson and Thabo Sefolosha scored 14 for the Thunder, on its longest winning streak since a 12-game run early in the 2012-13 season. Oklahoma City dominated the final three quarters in a 112-95 victory at Miami Wednesday night and picked up right where they left off in this one before a sellout crowd of 17,732 that included former President Bill Clinton.
Other games
Grizzlies 94, Timberwolves 90: Zach Randolph had 26 points and 12 rebounds and visiting Memphis overcame another strong effort by Kevin Love to beat Minnesota. Courtney Lee added 15 points for the Grizzlies, who have won five consecutive games and 10 of their past 11. Playing on a sore left ankle throughout the second half, Love led Minnesota with 28 points and 16 rebounds. Kevin Martin had 14 points for the Timberwolves.
Magic 113, Bucks 102: Arron Afflalo scored 21 points, Tobias Harris added 18 and host Orlando ran past Milwaukee. The Magic snapped a three-game losing streak and extended a home winning streak over Milwaukee to 16 games. Orlando led by as many as 25 points and had six players reach double-figures.
Hawks 125, 76ers 99: Mike Scott and Elton Brand scored 18 points apiece to lead seven Hawks in double figures and Atlanta routed host Philadelphia. DeMarre Carroll contributed 13, Paul Millsap, Jeff Teague and Lou Williams had 12 apiece, and Kyle Korver added 11 for the Hawks. Thaddeus Young had 29 points for the 76ers.
Mavericks 107, Kings 103: Dirk Nowitzki scored 34 points and host Dallas held off Sacramento, handing the Kings their sixth consecutive loss in another game without leading scorer DeMarcus Cousins. A night after being named an All-Star for the 12th time, Nowitzki helped the Mavericks rally in the fourth quarter after they squandered a double-digit lead in the first half and fell behind by 14 in the third.
Raptors 100, Nuggets 90: DeMar DeRozan scored 19 points, Terrence Ross had 18 and Toronto ended a decade-long drought in Denver by beating Nuggets. Jonas Valanciunas and Kyle Lowry added 13 points apiece for the Raptors, who snapped a ninegame losing streak in the Mile High City dating to 2003.