Los Angeles (dpa) - Kevin Durant is making the most of his limited
minutes.
The reigning NBA most valuable player dropped in 28 points in his third game back from an off-season foot injury Sunday and the visiting Thunder sent the downward-spiraling
Detroit Pistons to their 12th straight loss, 96-94.
Durant has been restricted to 30 minutes per game as the star forward gets into shape.
"Whatever minutes I have, I have to play as hard as I can," said Durant, after shooting 10-of-19 in 29 minutes of play. "Tonight, I just had to play smart care-free basketball with the minutes I had. Whatever coach needs me to do, I need to do it."
Russell Westbrook had 22 points with 11 rebounds and seven assists while Serge Ibaka added 13 points and 13 boards for Oklahoma City (7-13), winners in four of its last five outings.
"We knew going into this game that Detroit was going to play with a lot of urgency," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "They're in a tough stretch now, they're a prideful group. So we knew we'd have to play a solid game for 48 minutes."
Ahead 77-75 entering the fourth, the Thunder opened up a nine-point cushion as Jeremy Lamb's three-pointer capped a 7-0 run with 8 minutes 41 seconds left.
Detroit rallied to within 93-92 on Kyle Singler's triple with 2 minutes 18 seconds left to play but Durant countered with one of his own from downtown.
After Andre Drummond's dunk drew the Pistons within 96-94 with 31 seconds remaining they got the ball back after a Westbrook miss.
With a shot to end the slide, Josh Smth - a 25 per cent 3-point shooter - launched a potential game-winning triple from the right wing that missed, leaving the Pistons still searching for their first victory since a 96-89 overtime road win at Oklahoma City on Nov. 14.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope netted 19 points while Drummond finished with 16 and nine boards for Detroit (3-18) which is two losses shy of the franchise-record for futility.
"We played four solid quarters," Drummond said. "We're doing a great job of staying positive despite 12 straight losses. We've still got a long season ahead of us."
Elsewhere:
- Portland Trail Blazers 103, New York Knicks 99: LaMarcus Aldridge scored six of his 24 points in a decisive 7-2 closing run in the final three minutes, Damian Lillard added 20, and the visiting Trail Blazers (16-4) trimmed the Knicks for their 13th win in the last 14 games.
Carmelo Anthony had 23 points with 10 rebounds for reeling New York (4-18), losers of eight in a row.
- Boston Celtics 101, Washington Wizards 93: Jeff Green scored 25 points, Rajon Rondo collected a triple-double with 13 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, and the Celtics (7-11) held off the visiting Wizards for their third win in a row after nearly blowing a 25-point cushion.
Rasual Butler scored 22 while John Wall accumulated 17 points, 14 assists and eight boards for Washington (13-6) which was riding a four-game winning streak.
- Atlanta Hawks 96, Denver Nuggets 84: Paul Millsap scored 23 points, Kyle Korver added 15, and the surging Hawks (13-6) soared to their season-high sixth straight victory, after rocking the visiting Nuggets (9-11), led by Wilson Chandler's season-high 29 points and 10 rebounds.
- Memphis Grizzlies 103, Miami Heat 87: Jon Leuer had nine of his season-high 20 points in a game-breaking 19-3 fourth-quarter burst along with a career-best 12 rebounds, and the Grizzlies (16-4) handed the visiting Heat (9-10) a fourth straight loss despite Dwyane Wade's game-high 25 points.
Mike Conely hit all eight shots en route to 17 points, Zach Randolph and Courtney Lee also netted 17 apiece, as Memphis shot a sizzling 59 per cent to snap a two-game slide.
- Dallas Mavericks 125, Milwaukee Bucks 102: Chandler Parsons poured in 28 points, German juggernaut Dirk Nowitzki added 21, and the Mavericks (16-6) bounced the visiting Bucks (11-11) for their sixth win in the past seven games.
- New Orleans Pelicans 104, LA Lakers 87: Anthony Davis dropped in 23 points on 11-of-15 shooting, Jrue Holiday added 22 with eight assists, and the visiting Pelicans (9-9) beat the Lakers to stop a modest two-game slide.
Kobe Bryant netted 14 points for the Lakers, (5-16), off to their second-worst start in franchise history.
The reigning NBA most valuable player dropped in 28 points in his third game back from an off-season foot injury Sunday and the visiting Thunder sent the downward-spiraling
Detroit Pistons to their 12th straight loss, 96-94.
Durant has been restricted to 30 minutes per game as the star forward gets into shape.
"Whatever minutes I have, I have to play as hard as I can," said Durant, after shooting 10-of-19 in 29 minutes of play. "Tonight, I just had to play smart care-free basketball with the minutes I had. Whatever coach needs me to do, I need to do it."
Russell Westbrook had 22 points with 11 rebounds and seven assists while Serge Ibaka added 13 points and 13 boards for Oklahoma City (7-13), winners in four of its last five outings.
"We knew going into this game that Detroit was going to play with a lot of urgency," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "They're in a tough stretch now, they're a prideful group. So we knew we'd have to play a solid game for 48 minutes."
Ahead 77-75 entering the fourth, the Thunder opened up a nine-point cushion as Jeremy Lamb's three-pointer capped a 7-0 run with 8 minutes 41 seconds left.
Detroit rallied to within 93-92 on Kyle Singler's triple with 2 minutes 18 seconds left to play but Durant countered with one of his own from downtown.
After Andre Drummond's dunk drew the Pistons within 96-94 with 31 seconds remaining they got the ball back after a Westbrook miss.
With a shot to end the slide, Josh Smth - a 25 per cent 3-point shooter - launched a potential game-winning triple from the right wing that missed, leaving the Pistons still searching for their first victory since a 96-89 overtime road win at Oklahoma City on Nov. 14.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope netted 19 points while Drummond finished with 16 and nine boards for Detroit (3-18) which is two losses shy of the franchise-record for futility.
"We played four solid quarters," Drummond said. "We're doing a great job of staying positive despite 12 straight losses. We've still got a long season ahead of us."
Elsewhere:
- Portland Trail Blazers 103, New York Knicks 99: LaMarcus Aldridge scored six of his 24 points in a decisive 7-2 closing run in the final three minutes, Damian Lillard added 20, and the visiting Trail Blazers (16-4) trimmed the Knicks for their 13th win in the last 14 games.
Carmelo Anthony had 23 points with 10 rebounds for reeling New York (4-18), losers of eight in a row.
- Boston Celtics 101, Washington Wizards 93: Jeff Green scored 25 points, Rajon Rondo collected a triple-double with 13 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, and the Celtics (7-11) held off the visiting Wizards for their third win in a row after nearly blowing a 25-point cushion.
Rasual Butler scored 22 while John Wall accumulated 17 points, 14 assists and eight boards for Washington (13-6) which was riding a four-game winning streak.
- Atlanta Hawks 96, Denver Nuggets 84: Paul Millsap scored 23 points, Kyle Korver added 15, and the surging Hawks (13-6) soared to their season-high sixth straight victory, after rocking the visiting Nuggets (9-11), led by Wilson Chandler's season-high 29 points and 10 rebounds.
- Memphis Grizzlies 103, Miami Heat 87: Jon Leuer had nine of his season-high 20 points in a game-breaking 19-3 fourth-quarter burst along with a career-best 12 rebounds, and the Grizzlies (16-4) handed the visiting Heat (9-10) a fourth straight loss despite Dwyane Wade's game-high 25 points.
Mike Conely hit all eight shots en route to 17 points, Zach Randolph and Courtney Lee also netted 17 apiece, as Memphis shot a sizzling 59 per cent to snap a two-game slide.
- Dallas Mavericks 125, Milwaukee Bucks 102: Chandler Parsons poured in 28 points, German juggernaut Dirk Nowitzki added 21, and the Mavericks (16-6) bounced the visiting Bucks (11-11) for their sixth win in the past seven games.
- New Orleans Pelicans 104, LA Lakers 87: Anthony Davis dropped in 23 points on 11-of-15 shooting, Jrue Holiday added 22 with eight assists, and the visiting Pelicans (9-9) beat the Lakers to stop a modest two-game slide.
Kobe Bryant netted 14 points for the Lakers, (5-16), off to their second-worst start in franchise history.
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