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Durant's 3-pointer helps Sonics nip Knicks

Feb 3, 2008 - 7:18 AM By Kevin Shockey PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SEATTLE (Ticker) -- Kevin Durant poured in 21 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer in the fourth quarter, as the Seattle SuperSonics posted an 86-85 victory over the New York Knicks on Saturday.

After Durant split two free throws with 2:22 left in the fourth quarter to put the Sonics up by four, David Lee scored on a tip-in and Zach Randolph's jumper tied the game at 83-83.

But Chris Wilcox found Durant, the No. 2 overall pick in June's draft, wide open on the left wing out of a double-team for a 3-pointer with 54 seconds to go.

"It shows that the hard work is paying off, we just got to keep going," Durant said. "Hopefully, we can build up some more wins and keep going."

Jamal Crawford drove for a layup to bring the Knicks within one 10 seconds later. Despite finishing with 23 points, Crawford was held in check with just two points in the fourth.

New York had a chance to grab the lead after Jared Jeffries stole the ball from Durant with 21 seconds left, but Robinson came up short on a 3-pointer in the final seconds.

"If (Robinson) had missed all of his shots and made that one, he would have been on top of the world," Crawford said. "He deserved to make that when he's playing hard, it just didn't go for us."

The Sonics picked up the scoring in the third quarter, scoring 29 points after being held to just 17 in the first and second thanks to Durant, Earl Watson, and Nick Collison.

"Coach (P.J. Carlesimo) told us in the locker room to just play aggressive," Durant said. "We got to the free-throw line more and came away with the win."

Seattle was without first-rounder Jeff Green, who is out with a left ankle sprain suffered in Thursday's win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Robinson, who grew up Seattle, went down with an apparent leg injury early in the fourth after colliding with Kurt Thomas, but did return just three minutes later.

"It's tough, but we're battling and we're getting better," Knicks coach Isiah Thomas said. "It's tough to keep losing games like this, but we've got to keep working and trying to improve."

Randolph scored 24 points and Crawford had 23 for New York, which finished winless in five games on its five-game tour of the Western Conference.