Thunder 119 - 110 Pistons
Final
  for this game

Durant powers Thunder past Pistons

Nov 9, 2013 - 5:15 AM Auburn Hills, MI (SportsNetwork.com) - Kevin Durant poured in a game-high 37 points to go with eight rebounds and seven assists in the Oklahoma City Thunder's 119-110 win over the Detroit Pistons at the Palace at Auburn Hills.

Russell Westbrook added 20 points despite a dismal 5-for-19 shooting, while rookie Steven Adams notched his first career double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Thunder, winners in three straight.

"Kevin is all about winning. I could not say enough good things, I could stand here for 20 days and talk about how many good things he does for this team, this organization and this city. He is a winner and a leader, I am fortunate to be coaching him," said Thunder coach Scott Brooks.

Josh Smith scored 25 points and Greg Monroe finished with 20 points and 15 rebounds -- 10 of which came off the offensive glass -- for the Pistons, losers in three of their last four games. Brandon Jennings added 22 points and 11 assists.

"They executed down the stretch, and we didn't execute as well as they did," Smith said.

A pair of Durant free throws with 1:43 left gave the Thunder a 111-99 lead, but the Pistons refused to go down without a fight.

Jennings' trey with 20.4 seconds remaining capped an 11-4 burst that pulled Detroit within 115-110.

The Pistons were then forced to foul Thabo Sefolosha, and the defensive stalwart knocked down the subsequent free throws.

Durant then outmuscled Monroe after a ball tipped off his fingers on the ensuing trip down the court, and nailed a pair of free throws to seal the win.

Earlier, Kyle Singler got a tough layup to go for a 17-11 Detroit lead with four minutes remaining the opening frame. The Thunder closed the quarter on a 9-5 push to make it 22-20 after 12 minutes.

A 7-0 burst to open the second put Oklahoma City up 27-22. The Pistons were able take the lead briefly after Will Bynum's layup with 8:13 left in the first half, but the Thunder exploded for a 17-5 burst.

Durant highlighted the flurry with a fastbreak slam before capping the run with a trey from well behind the line on the left wing that put Oklahoma City ahead by a 48-37 count.

Detroit rallied to pull within 55-51 at the break.

After trailing by as many as five with just under four minutes left in the third, the Thunder closed the period with a 15-2 swing to take an 84-76 lead into the final frame.

Game Notes

Durant was 17-for-19 from the free throw line ... OKC outscored the Pistons 50-40 in the paint ... Rodney Stuckey finished with 17 points off the bench for the Pistons.






Related News