Durant Continues Hot Streak as OKC Downs Hornets

Oklahoma City jumped over New Orleans in the conference standings with a 104-93 victory.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:11 pm

By: News On 6

Durant Continues Hot Streak as OKC Downs Hornets

Originally Published: Feb 2, 2011 9:46 PM CDT

Grant Belcher
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY – It might have been well below freezing outside the Oklahoma City Arena, but inside, Kevin Durant was on fire yet again.

Durant led the Thunder to a 104-93 victory against the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday night, racking up 43 points on 14-of-19 shooting.

It was Durant’s third 40-point performance in the past week. He had 40 points against Washington on Jan. 28 and tied a career high with 47 two days before that against Minnesota.

Durant picked up 10 boards against the Hornets (32-19) to also give him a double-double in each of those three games.

New Orleans kept it close most of the first half and even built a six-point lead going into the break.

But Durant helped OKC (31-17) to a ridiculous run at the end of the third quarter, scoring six points in one minute to build a nine-point leading heading into the fourth and blow the game open for good.

Oklahoma City poured it in from 3-point range, hitting 10 of 24, including 5-of-7 shooting from Durant.

Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook were the only two other players in double figures for OKC, but seven Thunder players scored seven or more.

Serge Ibaka had a monster game off the bench with eight points, 12 boards and six blocks.

David West had 20 points and 15 boards for the Hornets, and Chris Paul added 15 points.

With the win, OKC leapfrogged New Orleans for sole possession of fourth place in the Western Conference standings.

The Thunder also clinched the season series against the Hornets three games to one, assuring that OKC would hold a tiebreaker in a two-way tie with them if the teams were locked in the standings come playoff time.

Durant and the Thunder will look to keep their momentum as they head on the road to warm, sunny Phoenix to take on the Suns. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. on Friday.