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Thunder roll over Bobcats

Mar 11, 2012 - 7:55 AM Oklahoma City, OK (Sports Network) - James Harden scored a career-high 33 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder rolled over the Charlotte Bobcats, 122-95, at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Kevin Durant added 26 points and seven rebounds, while Russell Westbrook contributed 23 points and four assists for the Thunder, who responded from Friday's loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers with their third win in four games.

"We came out strong, played hard, played together," remarked Durant after the game. "Everybody was moving the ball, everybody came out and did a great job when they stepped on the floor. It was a great bounce back win."

D.J. Augustin had 22 points and seven assists for Charlotte, which dropped its third straight game and fell to a dismal 2-19 on the road this season. Corey Maggette finished with 21 points in the loss.

The teams traded buckets over the first three minutes of action until the Thunder reeled off six straight points to take a 13-8 lead.

But Charlotte responded with a 10-0 spurt to jump out to an 18-13 advantage on Augustin's three-pointer with a little under five minutes remaining in the first.

However, back-to-back jumpers by Westbrook sparked a 15-7 run by Oklahoma City over the remainder of the opening quarter to give the Thunder a 28-25 lead after one.

Westbrook made all six shots he attempted in the first quarter, resulting in 13 points.

The Thunder then used a dominating second quarter to take control of the game.

After consecutive baskets by D.J. White and Reggie Williams brought the Bobcats' within two, 31-29, early in the second, Charlotte would not record a field goal over the next six-plus minutes as Oklahoma City reeled off a 19-4 run to jump out to a 50-33 lead.

The Bobcats were held to 23.8 percent shooting performance in the frame and shot just 30.2 percent in the half en route to a 58-40 deficit at the break.

Charlotte never threatened in the second half, trailing by double digits for the entire time as the Thunder controlled the action.

"We have to play better," admitted Bobcats head coach Paul Silas after the game. "In the fourth quarter, the third unit came in and we did not stop them and we just have to do better."

The Bobcats trailed, 91-70, at the end of three quarters and fell behind by as much as 31 in the fourth quarter to fall to a league-worst 5-34 on the season.

Game Notes

Oklahoma City improved to 18-2 at home this season...The Thunder are 7-1 all- time against Charlotte...Oklahoma City turned the ball over 14 times, leading to 20 points for the Bobcats...The Thunder recorded 14 points off 11 Charlotte giveaways.