Final
Thunder rout Kings as Durant's streak ends at 41
Apr 9, 2014 - 5:49 AM Sacramento, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Kevin Durant's historic scoring streak came to an end but his Oklahoma City Thunder easily took care of the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday, 107-92, to snap a two-game losing skid.Durant finished with 23 points as his run of scoring at least 25 points ended at 41 games. He passed Michael Jordan last time out for the most such games in the modern era.
"I was getting so many texts after every game. I'm glad that's over with and we can just focus on the team," Durant said.
The MVP candidate has still scored 20 or more points in 50 consecutive games.
Caron Butler made all six of his attempts from 3-point range for 23 points off the Thunder bench and Serge Ibaka donated 19 points in the rout.
DaMarcus Cousins matched Chris Webber (2001-02) for most double-doubles in a season in Sacramento franchise history with 50 after his 24-point, 14-rebound effort. Travis Outlaw also had 24 points and Ben McLemore scored 11 in the Kings' sixth loss in eight games.
"It looked they didn't even want to be out there, to be honest," Kings head coach Michael Malone said.
The Thunder moved a game and a half up on the idle Clippers in the race for second place in the Western Conference. The two teams are set to do battle in LA on Wednesday.
Ibaka scored four points at the end of a 9-0 Thunder run to start the contest. The Kings responded and kept it close throughout the first quarter, with a pair of Cousins jumpers giving them a 26-25 lead with 1:36 left. Durant got fouled shooting a 3-pointer and hit all of the ensuing free throws, and the Thunder led 30-27 after one.
Derrick Williams' lone point, a free throw at 7:10 of the second, tied the score at 37-all. Ibaka countered with a three-point play to restore the Thunder lead.
Butler's 3-ball at 2:29 pushed the spread to 55-43. Oklahoma City took a 61-49 lead into halftime.
The Thunder failed to pull away, however, with Outlaw's tip-in late in the third pulling the hosts back within three, 74-71.
The Kings trailed 85-77 after three and went cold to start the fourth, missing their first eight shots of the frame. The cold spell coincided with a 16-0 OKC run, which included a pair of 3-pointers by Jeremy Lamb.
Game Notes
Reggie Jackson had 13 points for the Thunder, who were without Russell Westbrook (rest, knee) ... OKC's bench outscored Sacramento's reserves, 47-15 ... The Kings won the rebounding margin, 44-39 ... Jason Thompson and Ben McLemore scored 11 points apiece for Sacramento.
Apr 9 12:23 AM- OKLAHOMA CITY: 85
SACRAMENTO: 77
End of 3rd
Apr 8 11:53 PM - OKLAHOMA CITY: 61
SACRAMENTO: 49
Halftime
Apr 8 11:10 PM - OKLAHOMA CITY: 30
SACRAMENTO: 27
End of 1st
Apr 8 10:36 PM - OKLAHOMA CITY: 2
SACRAMENTO: 0
1st Quarter - 11:43
Apr 8 10:18 PM
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