Thunder cruise to 6th straight win
Oklahoma City — Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant scored 28 points as the Thunder raced past the New York Knicks 104-92 on Saturday, notching their sixth straight NBA win.
James Harden added 24 off the bench and Russell Westbrook was on his way to his sixth career triple-double with 21 points, eight rebounds and eight assists before coach Scott Brooks pulled his All-Stars with the hosts up by 30 points late in the third quarter.
New York played without Carmelo Anthony because of a sprained ankle and injured wrist, but it was the Knicks’ defense that went missing.
Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City scored 70 points in the first half and kept its starters on the bench throughout the fourth quarter for the third straight home game won in a blowout.
Bulls 77,
Raptors 64
In Chicago, Derrick Rose had 18 points and 11 assists, leading Chicago over Toronto in a low-scoring encounter.
Rose keyed a seven-point burst to open the fourth period, assisting on three straight field goals.
Carlos Boozer added 17 points for Chicago, which won its fifth straight and improved to a league-best 12-2.
The Bulls are 5-0 at home for the first time since opening the 1996-97 season with seven straight. Chicago has held its opponents to just 66.8 points game on its home court.
DeMar DeRozan and Leandro Barbosa scored 15 points each for Toronto, which dropped its fourth straight.
Clippers 102,
Lakers 94
In Los Angeles, Chris Paul scored 33 points as the Clippers led all the way to beat the Lakers in the all-Los Angeles clash.
Blake Griffin had 22 points and 14 rebounds as the Clippers showed their win over Miami on Wednesday was no fluke by beating another one of the supposed elite NBA teams.
The Lakers had their five-game winnings streak ended despite 42 points from Kobe Bryant, who notched his fourth straight game of 40 or more points.
Hawks 93,
wolves 91
In Houston, Joe Johnson scored 25 points and Ivan Johnson hit the clinching free throws with 4.6 seconds remaining, completing Atlanta’s fightback from an 18-point deficit to beat Minnesota.
Kevin Love missed a potential game-tying jump shot at the buzzer, but finished with 30 points and 13 rebounds for Minnesota.
Pacers 97,
Celtics 83
In Indiana, Danny Granger scored 21 points as surprising Indiana handed Boston its fourth straight loss.
Paul George and Darren Collison each scored 17 points for the Pacers, who improved to 5-0 at home, with four wins by double-digit margins.
Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett both scored 21 points for the Celtics, only three players reached 10 points. Boston fell to 1-4 on the road.
Rockets 107,
Blazers 105, OT
In Houston, Kyle Lowry scored a season-high 33 points as Houston downed Portland in overtime.
Kevin Martin scored Houston’s final six points in overtime with a layup and four free throws over the final 32 seconds of the extra period. He finished with 28 points. OTHER RESULTS: Mavs 99, Kings 60; Jazz 107, Nets 94; 76ers 103, Wizards 90; Grizzlies 108, Hornets 99; Bobcats 112, Warriors 100. AP
