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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, March 13, 2010

Durant sparks Thunder


Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY — Kevin Durant pulled up just inside the 3-point line, crossed over and scored his 30th point.

Durant scored 32 points, surpassing 30 for a franchise-best 36th time this season, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 104-102 victory over the New Jersey Nets last night.

Durant passed Spencer Haywood's mark from the 1972-1973 season with Seattle.

Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks joked before the game that he might try to keep Durant from hitting the mark because of his admiration for Haywood. But as the NBA-worst Nets (7-58) climbed back in the game in the fourth quarter, Durant had to do the extra lifting.

Durant finished off his record night with two late free throws to clinch the Thunder's 40th victory of the season and 16th in their past 19 games.

The Thunder (40-24) led by 15 points with 6:36 remaining, but New Jersey trimmed the lead to 100-96 on a consecutive 3-pointers by Jarvis Hayes.

Russell Westbrook hit two free throws for a 104-98 lead with 6.3 seconds left to preserve the victory.

BOBCATS 106, CLIPPERS 98

Stephen Jackson scored 24 points and host Charlotte held off a fourth-quarter rally to beat Los Angeles for their fifth straight victory.

CAVALIERS 100, 76ERS 95

After missing two games with an injured right ankle, LeBron James had 23 points, 10 assists and six rebounds to lead visiting Cleveland.

GRIZZLIES 119, KNICKS 112

Zach Randolph had 24 points and 11 rebounds, and host Memphis nearly blew a 29-point lead before turning back New York.

NUGGETS 102, HORNETS 95

Carmelo Anthony had 32 points and 12 rebounds, and visiting Denver pulled away from an 86-all tie to beat New Orleans for its fifth straight win.

PISTONS 101, WIZARDS 87

Will Bynum had 20 assists, Jonas Jerebko scored 18 points, and host Detroit won the matchup of two of the Eastern Conference's worst teams

SPURS 103, TIMBERWOLVES 85

Richard Jefferson had 19 points, nine rebounds and three assists in his first start in seven games to spark visiting San Antonio over Minnesota.

HEAT 108, BULLS 95

Jermaine O'Neal scored 25 points, Quentin Richardson added 23 and Miami defeated Chicago to extend its home winning streak to five.

CELTICS 122, PACERS 103

Paul Pierce scored 20 points, and Rajon Rondo had 16 points and 11 assists as host Boston snapped a two-game losing streak.

BUCKS 95, JAZZ 87

Ersan Ilyasova scored on a putback with 27.2 seconds left to break an 87-all tie, and host Milwaukee made six straight free throws down the stretch.

LAKERS 102, SUNS 96

Kobe Bryant had 20 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, and visiting Los Angeles blew a 15-point lead before surging past Phoenix.

TRAIL BLAZERS 110, KINGS 94

Brandon Roy scored 28 points, and LaMarcus Aldridge scored 12 of his 18 in the third period as Portland went ahead 87-66 in routing the Kings for their third straight victory.

NOTES

Heat: Rafer Alston was moved to the suspended list by the Miami Heat last night, one week after he left the team without telling any member of the organization why. Alston told ESPN earlier this week that his departure stemmed from a personal matter involving his sister.

Nuggets: Coach George Karl will skip the last three games on the Denver Nuggets' road trip as he adjusts to a feeding tube that was placed into his stomach as part of his cancer treatment. His assistant, Adrian Dantley, will coach the team.

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