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Durant, Thunder roll past Minnesota

Dec 9, 2010 - 5:07 AM Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Kevin Durant led a balanced attack with 30 points, 11 rebounds and six assists as Oklahoma City defeated Minnesota, 111-103, at Target Center.

Russell Westbrook added 25 points and eight assists for Oklahoma City, which bounced back from a 99-90 loss at Chicago on Monday to win for the fourth time in six games.

Thabo Sefolosha had 13 points and six rebounds, while Jeff Green and Serge Ibaka each tallied 10 points in the win.

"It was one of those games you can be proud of," said Thunder head coach Scott Brooks. "Everyone chipped in to win the game."

Kevin Love had a big night with 22 points and 21 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who have lost 10 of their last 12 games. Michael Beasley notched 26 points and six rebounds, while Nikola Pekovic chipped in with 15 points in defeat.

"They were just making sure I didn't get any rebounds," Love said. "They were face guarding me and blocking me out and I just tried to do my job. On the offensive end, I tried to draw contact. A lot of calls could have gone our way but they didn't. We just have to keep working through that though. Tonight was just one of those games."

The Thunder captured their first lead early in the fourth quarter thanks to a Durant three-point play. They kept the edge for good when Eric Maynor found Ibaka for an alley-oop dunk with 10 minutes left.

However, Oklahoma's margin only grew as big as eight the rest of the way out.

Beasley drilled a trey with 1:19 left to draw the Timberwolves within one, but Durant answered back with a long ball of his own to make the score 107-103 with 63 seconds left to play. Beasley air balled a distance shot 40 seconds later, which would have made it a one-point game again, but the comeback was for naught as Green and Sefolosha each made two free throws to ice the game.

Love posted 15 first quarter points, to give the Timberwolves a 40-22 lead during the first 12 minutes of play.

Pekovic scored four straight points a little over a minute into the second quarter to give Minnesota a 44-25 edge. The Thunder rallied back, though, going a 22-5 run capped off by a Westbrook dunk with 4 1/2 minutes left to play in the half.

The Timberwolves' lead would reach double digits again following a Wesley Johnson slam and Beasley jumper. Luke Ridnour finished the opening half with a three-point play to give Minnesota a 64-53 advantage.

At the end of the third quarter, Oklahoma made its comeback run that started with a Westbrook jumper and slam. Durant then made a three-pointer to tie the game at 84 with 34.7 seconds left. Sebastian Telfair hit an eight-foot runner to give Minnesota a two-point advantage heading into the final frame.

Game Notes

Oklahoma City has won seven straight over Minnesota, including two wins this season...Oklahoma City is 1-1 on a three-game road trip that will conclude on Friday against New Orleans...The Thunder improved to 8-4 as the visitor in 2010-11...Minnesota center Darko Milicic did not play because of a bruised right quadriceps...The Thunder shot 92.6 percent from the charity line (25- of-27).