Kevin Durant's Late 3-Pointer Sends Thunder to OT Win

Durant led all players with 34 points and 16 rebounds.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:15 pm

By: News On 6

Kevin Durant's Late 3-Pointer Sends Thunder to OT Win

Originally Published: Mar 9, 2011 9:11 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

PHILADELPHIA – Kevin Durant hit a 3-pointer with six seconds left in regulation to force extra time, and the Oklahoma City Thunder moved to 7-1 in overtime games with a 110-105 win over the Philadelphia 76ers Wednesday.

The Thunder (40-23) trailed 101-96 with 35 seconds left, but Durant took over on three consecutive possessions. First he hit a running baseline jumper with two defenders in his face, and then followed with a blocked shot on the defensive end to keep it a one-possession game.

Oklahoma City called a timeout with 12 seconds left to advance the ball past midcourt, and the in-bound pass went to Durant. He pulled up, shot over a defender in his face and sank a 3-pointer to tie the game.

The 76ers (33-31) still had six seconds to attempt one more shot, but Russell Westbrook drew a charging foul to give the ball back to OKC. The Thunder tried the same in-bound play to Durant for a potential game-winning shot, but this one went long as the buzzer sounded.

The Thunder defense stepped up in the extra period. Nick Collison and James Harden each drew key offensive fouls to force turnovers, and OKC held the 76ers to only four overtime points.

Russell Westbrook’s mid-range jumper gave the Thunder a five-pointer lead – it’s largest of the game – with 22 seconds left, and Philadelphia missed two consecutive 3-pointers to seal the outcome.

Durant finished with 34 points and 16 rebounds, both of which were game highs. Collison and Westbrook also registered double-doubles; Collison with 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Westbrook with 27 points and 12 assists.

Jrue Holliday and Lou Williams led the 76ers with 22 points each, and Williams was the star of the fourth quarter. At one point he scored nine consecutive points and had 13 points in the frame compared to 14 points for the entire Thunder team.

OKC is the only team in the NBA with seven overtime victories, and only one other team has more than four. The Thunder has won four of its last five games and will return home for its next game against the Detroit Pistons at 7 p.m. Friday.