Thunder Rally Not Enough against Raptors

Toronto used a layup with one second remaining to break OKC's winning streak.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:17 pm

By: News On 6

Thunder Rally Not Enough against Raptors

Originally Published: Mar 20, 2011 8:19 PM CDT

Grant Belcher
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY – Even a team as hot as the Thunder has to slip up every once in a while.

The Toronto Raptors topped Oklahoma City 95-93, snapping the Thunder’s league-best six-game winning streak in the process.

OKC led 93-90 with 41 seconds remaining, but center Kendrick Perkins missed two free throws, leaving the door open.

Toronto’s Leandro Barbosa took advantage, rushing down to drain a 3-pointer and tying the game in the span of just three seconds.

Russell Westbrook missed a jumper, allowing the Raptors to wind down the clock and go ahead on a layup from Amir Johnson with a second to play.

Durant caught a look at a long 3-pointer that could have won the game but the shot sailed clear of the rim.

OKC had rallied back from as many as 12 down to take the three-point lead in the fourth, but couldn’t hang onto it.

The Raptors were on a 14-game road losing streak prior to snapping it against one of the league’s hottest teams on Sunday.

James Harden led the Thunder with 23 points off the bench. Kevin Durant added 22 and Russell Westbrook 20, but the duo combined to shoot just 32.5 percent on the night.

Center Kendrick Perkins continued to see a slow but steady increase in minutes while grabbing 12 rebounds and dishing out four assists.

With a victory from Dallas on Sunday, Oklahoma City is becoming more cemented into the No. 4 spot in the Western Conference, 4.5 games ahead of Denver and 3.5 behind the Mavs.

Oklahoma City has a couple of days off to regroup before hosting the Jazz on Wednesday at 7 p.m.