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Durant, Thunder handle Pistons

Mar 12, 2011 - 6:06 AM Oklahoma City, OK (Sports Network) - Kevin Durant recorded 24 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals, as the Oklahoma City Thunder handled the Detroit Pistons, 104-94.

James Harden made four three-pointers en route to 22 points off the bench for the Thunder, who have won five in a row against the Pistons and swept the home-and-home season series for the second straight year.

Serge Ibaka added 16 points and eight boards for Oklahoma City, which has won two straight and five of six overall. Russell Westbrook tallied 13 points and 11 assists.

Richard Hamilton finished with 20 points for the Pistons, who have lost 10 of their last 13 games.

Rodney Stuckey and Tayshaun Prince donated 16 and 15 points, respectively, for Detroit, which got 12 points and 10 rebounds from Greg Monroe. Tracy McGrady chipped in with 11 points and nine boards.

"They were hitting shots," Stuckey said. "James Harden came in and played a very good game. Durant did his usual as well as Russell Westbrook. They played a complete game."

The Pistons scored the final five points of a back-and-forth first quarter to grab a 26-22 edge.

But the Thunder took control late in the second quarter. Trailing by four, 43-39, with under five minutes to go, Oklahoma City closed out the half on a 16-7 run. Durant tallied 10 points during the stretch, including a jumper with 19.3 seconds left to give the Thunder a 55-50 lead at the break.

The Pistons got within four, 67-63, on McGrady's trey with 5:43 remaining. Oklahoma City, though, responded with a 9-4 flurry to take a 76-67 margin on Harden's three-pointer.

The Thunder led by as many as 11 in the third and took an 86-75 lead into the fourth.

Oklahoma City scored the first seven points of the final period to essentially seal the victory. Harden's trey made it 93-75 with 10:15 to play.

Detroit had one last run in them, as they ripped off nine straight points late in the frame to get within six, 100-94. But the Thunder scored the final four points of the game to account for the final margin.

"We get everybody involved," Durant said. "Everybody gets a touch and just like any sport, once you get a few baskets you start to feel good about yourself. Everybody was energetic on the offensive end tonight...Defense could have been a lot better."

Game Notes

Pistons center Ben Wallace (personal) missed the game...Durant went 11-of-11 from the foul line for the Thunder, who went 23-of-27 from the charity stripe...Oklahoma City shot 50 percent from the field...The Thunder blocked six shots...The Pistons turned the ball over 16 times, leading to 21 Oklahoma City points.