Final
Durant, Westbrook lead Thunder over Hornets
Jan 12, 2012 - 4:21 AM New Orleans, LA (Sports Network) - Kevin Durant had 29 points and 10 rebounds and Russell Westbrook scored 22 with seven assists Wednesday, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 95-85 win over the New Orleans Hornets.James Harden led a good effort by the Oklahoma City bench, scoring 14 points, and the Thunder posted their second five-game winning streak of the season.
Chris Kaman and Carl Landry had 17 points apiece to lead New Orleans, which was missing several key players again, including Eric Gordon. The Hornets fell to 1-4 at home this season and still haven't scored 100 points in any of their 10 games.
The Thunder trailed throughout the first quarter, going down by as many as 10. They trailed 27-22 entering the second and Scott Brooks looked to his bench for help.
The reserves came through. Led by Harden's 11 points, they outscored the starters 19-8 in the quarter and Oklahoma City shot 60 percent from the floor to take a 49-48 lead at halftime.
"I thought the second quarter was a big part of our win tonight," said Brooks.
Durant scored 11 of his 29 points and grabbed four of his 10 rebounds in the third quarter, keeping the Thunder in front, 73-70, going into the fourth.
"He's the scoring champion of the league two times. You can't stop guys like that from scoring, but you can try to make them take tough shots, which we did tonight," Hornets reserve DaJuan Summers said of Durant.
"It's a group effort to guard guys like that. It's not a one-man assignment."
Oklahoma City took its largest lead of the game in the quarter on Durant's three-pointer to make it 69-57. The Hornets ended the third on a 13-4 run, but the Thunder built a double-digit lead before the midway point of the fourth quarter and held their opponents at bay.
Game Notes
The Thunder moved to 5-1 on the road this season and 10-2 overall...The Hornets, despite their 3-7 record, have only allowed one team to score 100 points.
- OKLAHOMA CITY: 95
NEW ORLEANS: 85
Final
Jan 11 10:21 PM - OKLAHOMA CITY: 73
NEW ORLEANS: 70
End of 3rd
Jan 11 9:52 PM - OKLAHOMA CITY: 49
NEW ORLEANS: 48
Halftime
Jan 11 9:07 PM - OKLAHOMA CITY: 22
NEW ORLEANS: 27
End of 1st
Jan 11 8:38 PM - OKLAHOMA CITY: 0
NEW ORLEANS: 0
1st Quarter - 12:00
Jan 11 8:11 PM
Related News
- ESPN: Danilo Gallinari Won't Get a Max Offer Jun 16
- Wojnarowski: Thunder's Troy Weaver up for Pistons General Manager Job Jun 16
- Coalition of Players Still Have Concerns About NBA Restart Jun 15
- Shelburne, Wojnarowski, Chris Paul, Players Need to Understand the Financial Ramifications of Staying Home Jun 15
- The Athletic: Thunder Have to Figure out if They Want to Stay Competitive or Rebuild Jun 15
- Video: Chris Paul, NBA'S Calming Voice Jun 14
- Could Andre Roberson Take Lou Dort's Spot Jun 13
- Shams Charina, Chris Paul Provides Insight on NBAPA Call Jun 13
- Hard for NBA Players to Speak out against Chris Paul and LeBron James Jun 12
- Darius Bazley Turns 20 Jun 12
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Ripped, as Thunder get Ready to Return Jun 12
- Keith Smith, "Thunder Can Keep Lou Dort on two-way Contract Jun 11