Durant powers the Warriors past Oklahoma City Thunder
LOS ANGELES – Agence France-Presse
Kevin Durant delivered 28 points and Stephen Curry finished with 21 points and nine rebounds as the Golden State Warriors improved to 46-14 with a 112-80 win over Oklahoma City.
After a see-saw first half the defending league champion Warriors got in a groove, going on a 21-1 run spanning the third and fourth quarters to seize control and turn Feb. 24’s contest into a blowout.
The Warriors also avenged a pair of losses to the Thunder in November and just before the NBA All-Star Game break earlier this month.
“We’re champions. We’re 46-14 and we’ve got one of the best road records in the league,” Durant said.
Thunder star Paul George was held to just five points, while a struggling Carmelo Anthony scored only 14. Russell Westbrook led Oklahoma City with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Elsewhere, the Miami Heat used a balanced scoring attack to halt a three-game losing streak by rolling over the struggling Memphis Grizzlies 115-89.
Tyler Johnson scored 23 points for the Heat, who are battling for a post-season spot after winning for just the second time in their last 10 games.
In Portland, Damian Lillard scored on a driving layup with nine-tenths of a second to play as the Portland Trail Blazers rallied to beat the Phoenix Suns 106-104.
Lillard scored 19 points in the fourth quarter and finished with 40.
In New York, Kyrie Irving tallied 31 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, leading the Boston Celtics over the New York Knicks 121-112 for their second victory in two nights since the all-star break.
