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Durant paces Thunder over mistake-prone Nets

Dec 30, 2010 - 8:42 AM Oklahoma City, OK (Sports Network) - Kevin Durant tallied a game-high 27 points and the Thunder used 23 forced turnovers to upend New Jersey, 114-93.

Russell Westbrook totaled 17 points and seven assists, while James Harden scored 11 points for Oklahoma City, which has alternated wins and losses over the past seven games.

"I thought it was a good offensive game, I thought the ball was really moving," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "Our hands were very active tonight. Our defense was solid and we were forcing turnovers."

Devin Harris and Brook Lopez led the Nets with 19 points apiece, but the club's carelessness with the ball led to 23 points the other way en route to a third straight loss.

After playing to a 24-all tie in the first quarter, the Thunder pulled ahead for good in the second frame, forcing 12 turnovers and getting 10 points from Westbrook, whose dunk just before the break provided a 57-46 cushion.

Westbrook was at it again early in the second half, highlighting a 10-2 run with an alley-oop slam for a 63-48 advantage two minutes into the third.

The margin reached 18 when Durant's fastbreak throw-down made it 76-58 midway through the frame, and the Thunder rested their regulars thanks to an 88-70 margin heading to the final stanza.

Game Notes

Oklahoma City has won five straight in the series...The Thunder shot 55 percent from the field, compared to New Jersey's 48-percent effort...The Thunder had 31 assists on 45 made field goals, including seven helpers from Eric Maynor...Nick Collison and Nenad Krstic each netted 10 points for the hosts.