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Durant, Thunder top Clippers in OT

Nov 22, 2012 - 6:56 AM Oklahoma City, OK (Sports Network) - Kevin Durant struggled with his shot, but continued to attack and used the charity stripe to his advantage.

Durant nailed 19-of-21 free-throw attempts and netted 35 points in the Oklahoma City Thunder's 117-111 overtime win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Durant was just 7-of-19 from the floor and turned the ball over six times, but snatched six rebounds, dished out five assists and tallied five steals for Oklahoma City, which has prevailed in eight of its last nine contests.

"I think early on, me driving and me getting into the paint, I was a little hesitant in the second half because I was turning the ball over," Durant said.

Russell Westbrook registered 23 points and nine assists, while Serge Ibaka added 15 points and 12 boards in the victory.

Oklahoma City was 34-of-39 from the foul line.

Blake Griffin poured in 23 points, but Chris Paul recorded just nine points on 2-of-14 shooting for the Clippers, who had their six-game winning streak snapped. Paul had nine assists.

"We can play better that's the exciting thing about it and we know that and we need to," Clippers head coach Vinny Del Negro said.

The Clippers were gunning for their first seven-game victory stretch since an eight-game run from Nov. 30-Dec. 15, 1991.

The Thunder led by as many as nine in the fourth, but Matt Barnes helped Los Angeles force an extra session.

Thrust into the starting lineup for the first time this season to hassle Durant defensively, Barnes finished with 19 points and nine boards. His 3- pointer from the left corner pulled the visitors within 100-98 with 1:28 left in the fourth.

Westbrook drove and found Ibaka for an open right baseline jumper on the Thunder's ensuing trip before Paul hit a pair of free throws for a 102-100 game with 1:04 to go.

Westbrook broke down the defense and found an open Ibaka again on Oklahoma City's next possession, but Ibaka missed and Barnes secured the rebound.

Following a timeout, Barnes' right wing drive resulted in a layup and tie score with 36.9 to play.

Westbrook missed a runner and Paul's fallaway from the left elbow as time expired didn't drop.

Durant and Westbrook then racked up all of Oklahoma City's points in the overtime.

Westbrook hit a trey and without hesitation, Durant buried a deep triple from well beyond the wing for a 108-104 edge.

DeAndre Jordan's three-point play pulled the visitors within a point, but Westbrook nailed a pullup jumper and Los Angeles never got closer. Durant made all four of his foul shots over the final 16.8 ticks to secure the win.

Durant had nine points, while Westbrook added six in the extra session.

Oklahoma City led, 28-22, after one, and took a 59-49 advantage into the break. The Clippers never led in the second half and trailed, 76-69, after three.

Game Notes

Clippers forward Caron Butler didn't suit up due to a sprained right shoulder ... Los Angeles took three of its four meetings against Oklahoma City last year ... The Clippers had 17 offensive rebounds, 54 points in the paint and 28 second chance points.