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Durant, Westbrook lead Thunder over Magic

Mar 16, 2013 - 5:36 AM Oklahoma City, OK (Sports Network) - Kevin Durant scored 26 points and pulled down nine rebounds and Russell Westbrook added 23 points, six boards and six assists as the Oklahoma City Thunder held off the Orlando Magic, 117-104, on Friday.

Serge Ibaka had 20 points, six rebounds and three blocks, while Kevin Martin chipped in with 15 points and six rebounds off the bench for the Thunder, winners in seven of their last eight games.

"We knew they'd play hard but our focus was inconsistent throughout the game and that's something we have to get better at," said Thunder coach Scott Brooks. "We missed a lot of free throws and a lot of layups. The bright spot about this game is that it's over with."

Jameer Nelson scored 26 points and dished out seven assists and Nikola Vucevic scored 21 points and pulled down 14 boards for the Magic, losers in seven of their last nine games.

Arron Afflalo scored 20 and Tobias Harris added 19 in the setback.

"We had great concentration in the second half, their two stars hit two big threes that helped push the margin but we didn't turn the ball over and that gave us a chance," said Magic coach Jacque Vaughn.

Oklahoma City shot 71.4 percent (15-for-21) in the first quarter to take a 39-26 lead after 12 minutes. Westbrook poured in 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting, while Ibaka and Durant added eight and six points, respectively, in the frame.

The Thunder stretched their lead to 73-56 at the break after going 12-for-21 from the field. Oklahoma City scored 10 points off five Orlando turnovers in the second.

The Thunder's lead grew to as many as 22 in the third, 83-61, but Orlando used a 19-6 surge to pull within 89-82 with just over a minute left. Durant and Westbrook nailed back-to-back treys to give the Thunder a 95-84 edge entering the final frame.

Nelson's triple with 3:37 left pulled the Magic within 106-102, but the Thunder scored the final nine points of the game to seal the win.

Game Notes

Oklahoma City shot 55.3 percent (42-for-76) from the field ... Perry Jones scored eight points and pulled down five rebounds in just over 11 minutes of play for the Thunder ... The Magic went just 7-for-27 from 3-point range.