Russell Westbrook got the Oklahoma City Thunder back into the game and Kevin Durant and the defense closed out the host Minnesota Timberwolves for a 111-103 victory Wednesday.
Durant had 30 points, 11 rebounds and six assists and Westbrook had 25 points and eight assists as the Thunder improved to 5-3 during a stretch of seven of nine games on the road.
Michael Beasley scored 26 points and Kevin Love added 22 and 21 rebounds for Minnesota, which has lost six straight to Oklahoma City and eight of nine overall. The Timberwolves play their next six games on the road.
Westbrook had 15 points and four assists in the third period and Durant scored nine points as the Thunder shot 13-of-20 in the quarter to cut a 19-point deficit to 86-84 heading into the final 12 minutes.
Oklahoma City continued its onslaught in the fourth quarter, taking a 102-95 lead with 2:49 left on a jumper by Serge Ibaka. Minnesota missed 16 of its first 19 shots of the period.
After the Wolves closed within two points, Durant nailed a jumper with 1:36 left. Beasley nailed a 3-pointer, but Durant answered with a shot from the arc with 62 seconds to play.
Minnesota jumped to a 40-22 lead in the first quarter behind 15 points and eight rebounds from Love. Oklahoma City closed to 49-47 before a four-point play by Ron Brewer with 3:31 left and a three-point play by Luke Ridnour with 15 ticks left provided Minnesota a 64-53 halftime cushion.
Oklahoma City | Minnesota | |
Kevin Durant 30 | Scoring | Michael Beasley 26 |
Russell Westbrook 8 | Assists | Luke Ridnour 9 |
Kevin Durant 11 | Rebounds | Kevin Love 21 |
Jeff Green 6 | Free Throws Made | Kevin Love 6 |
Thabo Sefolosha 2 | Steals | Corey Brewer 3 |
Serge Ibaka 8 | Blocks | Nikola Pekovic 3 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Oklahoma City | 111 | 51.9 | 6-17 | 25-27 | 27 | 42 | 12 | 7 | 15 |
Minnesota | 103 | 41.9 | 8-18 | 17-26 | 21 | 40 | 5 | 9 | 12 |