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Thunder top Suns

Jan 1, 2012 - 6:46 AM Oklahoma City, OK (Sports Network) - Russell Westbrook dropped a game-high 18 points and was one of six players in double-figures as the Oklahoma City Thunder topped the Phoenix Suns, 107-97 at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Kevin Durant finished with 12 points and six rebounds, while Thabo Sefolosha and Daequan Cook contributed 12 points apiece for the Thunder, who remain perfect on the young season at 5-0. Nick Collison and James Harden donated 11 and 10 points, respectively, for Oklahoma City.

Markieff Morris and Hakim Warrick paced the Suns with 15 points apiece, while Jared Dudley added 14 points and five boards and Marcin Gortat netted 12 points to go with six rebounds for Phoenix, which fell to 1-3 on the year.

"We did not defend the way we wanted to," Suns swingman Channing Frye said. "Their guys made shots early and we did not. I think we are very inconsistent on offense right now and I guess that just comes with trust and time. We have to grind it out."

The Thunder came flying out of the gate, reeling off a 17-5 run to begin the game before being snapped by a putback by Frye to make it a 10-point game, 17-7, with just over six minutes left in the opening 12 minutes of play.

Trailing by 10, 19-9, with under five minutes left in the opening 12 minutes, the Suns fought back with a 7-3 burst to pull within five, 21-16, with under three minutes to go in the first quarter.

A pair of free throws late in the frame got the Suns to within one, but the Thunder scored the final four points of the quarter to lead by five, 27-22, after 12 minutes.

Morris opened the second frame with a layup to make it a three-point game, but Oklahoma City scored the next five points to push the lead back to eight, 37-29, with nine minutes to go before the break.

Shannon Brown sank a layup coming out of a timeout to cut it to six, but then the Thunder used a 17-4 run to balloon the lead to 19, 54-35, with 4:24 left before halftime. The Thunder led by 14, 60-46, at the break.

Oklahoma City kept the Suns at bay in the third stanza, leading by double- digits throughout the 12 minutes. They shot 61 percent from the floor and led by 22, 89-67, after the third stanza.

Collison opened the final quarter with a jumper to give the Thunder their largest lead of the game at 24, 91-67. Phoenix then rattled off a 9-0 run to cut the deficit to 15 with eight minutes to play in regulation.

The Suns outscored the Thunder in the final period, 30-18, and scored the final six points of the game to cut the deficit to 10 with 40 seconds to play, but the hill was too large for the Suns to climb.

"The ball movement was good tonight. We turned it over a few too many times, but we were really moving the ball," Thunder head coach Scott Brooks said. "I thought we played well. It was a good win for us."

Game Notes

Phoenix leads the all-time series between the teams, 121-91...Oklahoma City shot 53 percent from the floor and 40 percent from beyond the arc, while Phoenix shot 40 percent from the floor and 31 percent from three-point range...Suns point guard Steve Nash finished with eight points and six assists, while Sebastian Telfair ended with seven points...Thunder forward Nazr Mohammed had nine points and seven boards...Oklahoma City outrebounded Phoenix 45-37...Phoenix turned 21 Thunder turnovers into 21 points.