Oklahoma thunder past Brooklyn Nets

Oklahoma City Thunder’s assured 120-95 win over the Brooklyn Nets maintained their winning streak in the NBA.

Mason Plumlee of the Brooklyn Nets shoots against the Oklahoma City Thunder [AFP]

The Oklahoma City Thunder proved they are the hottest team in the NBA, winning their 10th successive game with a 120-95 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.

Thunder forward Kevin Durant had his streak of 12 consecutive 30-point games snapped, scoring 26 and adding seven assists.

Durant sat out the entire fourth quarter as the Thunder were leading by 89-59 at the end of the third.

In the past 30 years, only Kobe Bryant (16) and Tracy McGrady (14) recorded more consecutive 30-point games.

Forward Serge Ibaka showed his versatility, scoring from anywhere on the floor with 25 points on 12-of-12 shooting.

Ibaka and Durant shot a combined 22 of 24 from the field.

Memphis Forward Zach Randolph scored 13 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, including a twisting shot from the paint with 2:27 left that gave the Grizzlies the lead in a 94-90 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Guard Courtney Lee scored 16 points, Mike Conley had 12 points and guard Tayshaun Prince added 11, including a three-pointer with 59.6 seconds left that put the Grizzlies up by six.

Forward Kevin Love scored 22 of his 28 points in the second half, including 18 points in the third quarter, for the Timberwolves.

Veteran forward Elton Brand had a season-high 18 points against his former team as the Atlanta Hawks rolled to a 125-99 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

The 34-year-old Brand, in his 15th season, shot 8-for-12 off the Atlanta bench to lead seven players in double figures.

Another reserve, forward Mike Scott, also had 18 for the Hawks, with 16 of those coming in the second quarter.

Forward Thaddeus Young had 29 points, one shy of his season high, to pace the Sixers.

Veteran guard Arron Afflalo scored 21 points in 30 minutes as the Orlando Magic breezed to an easy 113-102 victory over the lowly Milwaukee Bucks.

Magic’s easy pickings

It was the fifth consecutive loss for the Bucks (8-38) and the 14th loss in their last 15 games.

The hard-luck and short-handed Sacramento Kings could not hold onto a 14-point fourth-quarter lead and lost 107-103 to the Dallas Mavericks.

Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavs’ comeback with 34 points, 12 in the decisive final period.

He spoiled Kings forward Rudy Gay’s effort that included 35 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.

Guard DeMar DeRozan returned to the lineup to score 19 points and the Toronto Raptors beat the Denver Nuggets 100-90. 

Forward Terrence Ross had 18 points for the Raptors, who won for the first time in 11 years in Denver.

Center J.J. Hickson had 18 points and 13 rebounds and guard Evan Fournier scored 18 points for the Nuggets.

Centre Al Jefferson scored a season-high 40 points and grabbed 18 rebounds to lift the Charlotte Bobcats to a 110-100 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Jefferson connected on 18 of 32 field goals as Charlotte (21-27) beat the Lakers for the first time in Los Angeles in five years.

The Bobcats also handed Los Angeles (16-31) its sixth straight loss.

All-Star guard Steph Curry scored 44 points and the Golden State Warriors spoiled a festive banner-raising night for former Utah coach Jerry Sloan with a come-from-behind 95-90 victory over the Jazz.

Curry hit two of his eight three-pointers during a key 12-0 run in the fourth quarter that put the Warriors (29-19) in position to win and dampen the party-like atmosphere.

Centre Andrew Bogut scored 16 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to help Golden State.

Source: Reuters