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Durant, Thunder top 76ers

Mar 1, 2012 - 7:01 AM Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Kevin Durant scored 23 points, as the Thunder finished strong to down the 76ers, 92-88, on Wednesday.

Russell Westbrook had 22 points and a season-high 13 rebounds -- seven offensive -- for the Thunder, who closed the game on a 15-4 run to win their sixth straight.

"Westbrook really hurt us on the offensive boards," said Philadelphia coach Doug Collins. "We talked about that going into the game. That guy is a little pit bull and you have to play all 24 seconds of the clock with him."

The 76ers halted a season-long five-game losing streak in Tuesday's rout of the Pistons, but shot just 8-for-27 in the fourth quarter against Oklahoma City to fall for the eighth time in 11 games.

Andre Iguodala and Jrue Holiday had 18 points apiece, while Thaddeus Young added 16 points and nine rebounds in the setback.

Philadelphia was up 84-77 with five minutes to play when Durant hit a long jumper and then a three-pointer to pull the Thunder within two.

Jodie Meeks made it 85-82, sinking a technical free throw after Thunder center Kendrick Perkins shoved Elton Brand post-whistle, but a pair of foul shots from James Harden and one from Durant tied the game with 3:20 to play.

Oklahoma City continued to claim control from the charity stripe, as Serge Ibaka grabbed an offensive rebound, drew the foul and made both free throws for a 87-85 advantage with under two minutes to go.

Perkins' free throw after a Holiday miss stretched the advantage to three and the 76ers failed to convert on several opportunities to pull even in the final minute.

First, Lou Williams missed an open three-pointer with 24 seconds left. Then, Harden was off on a pair of free throws, but Williams turned the ball over on the Sixers' next possession.

Durant made 1-of-2 for a 89-88 lead before Iguodala nailed a corner three- pointer with six seconds to play, marking Philadelphia's first field goal in 12 shots.

Durant was fouled. He made the first and missed the second, but Westbrook snatched the offensive rebound and hit a pair from the foul line to seal the win.

"We have a team full of competitors that really do a great job of getting into the ball and getting into the man and making them miss shots," said Thunder coach Scott Brooks.

Oklahoma City was up 26-24 after one and closed the second on an 8-0 run to take a 53-48 lead into the break.

Philadelphia, though, opened the third with a 15-2 surge, taking a 63-55 lead on Meeks' fastbreak layup. A three-pointer from Daequan Cook and two free throws from Westbrook made it 63-60, but the 76ers held on for a 67-63 advantage after three.

They carried the momentum into the fourth, answering a pair of Harden free throws with seven straight points for a 74-66 lead.

"We're growing, we're learning," said Collins. "It's frustrating but we're going to keep fighting and hopefully we're going to find a way to start winning some of these games."

Game Notes

Oklahoma City outscored Philadelphia 26-10 from the foul line...The Thunder have won eight of their last nine games. They have won six straight over the 76ers...Oklahoma City improved to 13-6 on the road this season...Harden had 16 points and Ibaka 10.