Thunder score one of most lopsided first halves in NBA
Oklahoma — Kevin Durant scored 18 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder opened a 40-point halftime lead in one of the most lopsided first halves in NBA history on their way to a 114-69 blowout of the Charlotte Bobcats yesterday.
Russell Westbrook had 12 points and 11 assists before he and the rest of Oklahoma City’s starters were pulled less than 5 minutes into the second half with the Thunder leading 79-25.
Westbrook powered home a right-handed slam to put an exclamation point on the first half and put Oklahoma City up 64-24. It was the fifth-biggest halftime lead in NBA’s shot clock era and the largest since Golden State set the record with an 88-41 edge on Sacramento on Nov. 2, 1991, according to STATS.
It was the largest blowout ever for Charlotte, which had shown promise with seven early wins — the same number it had last season while setting an NBA record for futility.
Nets 96,
Knicks 89, OT
In New York, The Nets worked overtime to pull out the opener of their new-look rivalry with the Knicks, winning to tie their city rivals for first place.
Jerry Stackhouse, wearing the No. 42 Jackie Robinson made famous in Brooklyn, made the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 3:31 left in overtime as the Nets controlled the extra period of a playoff-like game that neither team led by more than seven.
Brook Lopez had 22 points and 11 rebounds, and Deron Williams added 16 points and 14 assists as the Nets improved to 7-1 in their new home and tied the Knicks atop the Atlantic Division at 9-4.
Spurs 118,
Wizards 92
In Washington, Boris Diaw scored 16 points, Tiago Splitter had 15 points and 12 rebounds and Tony Parker added 15 to help the Spurs win their fourth straight over the still-winless Washington Wizards.
The Wizards are the 12th team in NBA history to start the season 0-12 according to STATS and are six away from equaling the New Jersey Nets’ record 0-18 start in 2009-10. In their first 11 games, Washington lost by a total of just 72 points and never by more than 16.
OTHER RESULTS: Pistons 108, Trail Blazers 101; Grizzlies 84, Cavs 78; Bucks 93, Bulls 92; Jazz 105, Nuggets 103; Hornets 105, Clippers 98. /ap
