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Thunder stop Spurs; Durant one shy of tying MJ

Apr 4, 2014 - 5:51 AM Oklahoma City, OK (SportsNetwork.com) - The San Antonio Spurs had a chance to extend their franchise-record winning streak and all but seal up the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs, but the Oklahoma City Thunder stood in the way.

Kevin Durant scored 28 points with seven rebounds to help Oklahoma City cool off the red-hot Spurs with a 106-94 decision and sweep the four-game season series between the teams.

Durant has now scored 25-plus points in 39 consecutive games, which is one shy of the NBA record set by Michael Jordan.

San Antonio had its 19-game winning streak halted in the process and the Thunder pulled within three games of the Spurs for first-place in the West.

Oklahoma City has eight games left on its schedule while the Spurs have six remaining.

Russell Westbrook netted 27 points with six assists in Oklahoma City's third straight victory overall and sixth win in its last eight games. Serge Ibaka contributed an 11-point, 12-rebound double-double and Reggie Jackson added 14 points off the bench for the Thunder.

Patty Mills paced San Antonio with 21 points, while Tim Duncan recorded 17 points and eight rebounds. Kawhi Leonard also added 17 points in the setback.

"We never thought about the streak in the first place," said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. "To us it's just another game. We learn from every game whether we win it or lose it but it's got nothing to do with a streak."

Playing on the back-end of a back-to-back, the Spurs led 51-43 late in the second quarter when Westbrook nailed a 3-pointer and then followed that with a layup to cut the deficit to 51-48 at the break.

Ibaka made a jumper early in the third that ignited a 17-4 burst that staked the hosts to a 69-60 lead. The Thunder grabbed their first lead since the early stages of the first quarter during the run and Westbrook followed a Durant jumper with a dunk to cap it.

Mills hit a 3 to cut the deficit to seven, but Durant's runner capped the scoring in the third to make it an 80-71 game heading to the fourth.

"Our defense was outstanding in the second half," said Thunder coach Scott Brooks. "I thought we started that third quarter really making it tough on them getting good, clean looks. That's one of the hardest things to do against the Spurs."

Jackson scored the final seven points during a 9-2 quarter-opening run which gave Oklahoma City n 89-73 advantage.

Mills later scored eight straight to cut the deficit to eight just before the six-minute mark of the frame. The Thunder, however, pushed the lead back to double digits and kept a comfortable lead down the stretch.

Game Notes

Thunder center Kendrick Perkins started for the first time in 17 games due to groin surgery. He didn't attempt a shot in 12 minutes of action ... Jackson returned from a two-game absence because of a back sprain ... Oklahoma City shot 40-for-81 (49.4 percent) from the field and held the Spurs to 38-of-88 (43.2 percent) shooting ... The Thunder had a 30-13 edge on the fastbreak ... San Antonio owned a 42-39 edge on the glass.