Thunder Outlasts Houston to Extend Streak to Three

Oklahoma City took a big, late-game lead, but had to hold off a last-minute push by the Rockets.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:08 pm

By: News On 6

Thunder Outlasts Houston to Extend Streak to Three

Originally Published: Jan 12, 2011 10:12 PM CDT

Gerald Goodridge
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

HOUSTON -- Despite taking a big lead early, the Oklahoma City Thunder had to hold off a late-game push by the Rockets Wednesday to win 118-112.

The win was the Thunder’s third consecutive win and pushed its record against the Western Conference to 15-9.

Oklahoma City led by one with 7:37 left on the clock, but Kevin Durant did his best to put the Rockets away. The Thunder put together a 15-3 run, including 11 from Durant, to take a commanding 107-94 lead with less than three minutes on the clock.

However Houston wouldn’t go away quietly.

The Rockets managed to score 12 of the next 13 points – seven from Courtney Lee and five from Aaron Brooks - to bring it back to a one-possession game with just 20 seconds left to play. But when the game turned into a free throw contest in the closing seconds, Oklahoma City answered the bell.

Russell Westbrook and James Harden connected on the following eight free throw attempts, four from each, to close Houston out and come away with the win.

Houston’s Luis Scola led all scorers with 31 points while grabbing 11 rebounds, with Lee contributing 19 off of the bench and Kyle Lowry adding 18.

Durant set the pace for Oklahoma City with 30 points and six rebounds on the night and was a perfect 4-of-4 from beyond the arc. Wesbrook recorded yet another double-double with 23 points and 13 rebounds, while Thabo Sefolosha only scored six but grabbed a career-high 13 boards.

The Thunder doesn’t get a day off. It comes back to Oklahoma City for a 7 p.m. matchup Thursday against the Orlando Magic.