Durant-less Thunder Wins Again

James Harden's hot shooting helped OKC to an 82-81 win against the Bucks on Saturday.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:03 pm

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Nov 21, 2010 10:10 AM CDT

Grant Belcher
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

MILWAUKEE – For the second-straight game, Oklahoma City played without Kevin Durant and Jeff Green.

And for the second-straight game, they made up for it with hustle, defense and scrappy play in an 82-81 victory against the Bucks on Saturday.

Guard James Harden played a team-high 40 minutes and scored 23 points in Durant and Green’s absence. He was 6-of-13 from the field, all of the makes coming on 3-pointers.

Russell Westbrook chipped in again with 18 points and six rebounds.

Milwaukee jumped out to an early 4-2 lead, but that would be the last time it would lead in the game.

The Thunder led by as many as 10 points several times.

The Bucks scratched their way back into the game and pulled to within one several times at the end of the fourth quarter, but could never regain the lead.

Russell Westbrook, who was 8-of-8 from the free-throw line during the game, hit all six of his free throws in the fourth quarter.

The Thunder hit a blazing 8-of-14 shots from beyond the arc despite shooting just 37 percent on the game.

With the win, Oklahoma City improved to 5-1 on the road and 5-1 against Eastern Conference opponents.

The Bucks (5-8) have dropped three straight after winning their previous three straight.

OKC (9-4) will return home to host Minnesota on Monday at 7 p.m. at the Oklahoma City Arena.