Thunder Wins Another Thriller against Portland

Durant, Westbrook lead OKC in 110-108 victory.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:02 pm

By: News On 6

Thunder Wins Another Thriller against Portland

Originally Published: Nov 12, 2010 11:43 PM CDT

Grant Belcher
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY – It was Russell’s Westbrook’s 22nd birthday Friday in Oklahoma City, but he was the one handing out the gifts.

Westbrook gave a full house at the Oklahoma City Arena plenty to cheer about, leading the Thunder to a thrilling 110-108 victory over division rival Portland.

He had 36 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in the victory. Kevin Durant also added 34 points for OKC.

Durant and Westbrook got Oklahoma City off to a quick start, but a welcome sight for Thunder fans was the re-emergence of guard James Harden starting at the end of the first quarter.

Harden scored 10 straight points for the Thunder, including back-to-back 3s at the end of the first to break out of a shooting slump that plagued him through the season’s first seven games.

The Thunder trailed throughout most of the game, including by as many as eight with nine minutes to play.

But Kevin Durant took over at the end of the game, scoring eight straight to give the Thunder a five-point lead with 90 seconds to play.

Durant and Westbrook accounted for Oklahoma City’s final 18 points.

Free-throw shooting was once again the game-changer for the Thunder, for they shot 24-of-26 from the line in the game. OKC easily leads the NBA in free-throw percentage through the first eight games of the young season.

Oklahoma City also got solid production from center Nenad Krstic, who was on-and-off early in the season. Krstic put up 12 points and five rebounds, and fellow post Serge Ibaka added 12 points and seven boards.

OKC has won three of its past four, including a 107-106 overtime game at Portland eight days earlier.

Forward Jeff Green sat out his third straight game with a sprained left ankle and is still listed as day-to-day.

The Thunder will host San Antonio on Sunday at 6 p.m. at the Oklahoma City Arena.