Oklahoma City Thunder Defeats Utah Jazz

Originally Published: Mar 14, 2010 7:3 PM CDT

Andrew Topps
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Utah Jazz 119-111 Sunday. Oklahoma City is 3-0 against Utah this season.

All of the Thunder’s starters scored in double figures. Kevin Durant had a game-high 35 points. Russell Westbrook added 30 points to go along with 11 assists. Jeff Green finished with 14 points, while Nenad Krstic and Thabo Sefolosha each finished with 13.

Oklahoma City had a 109-95 advantage with less than four minutes to play. However, Utah’s Wesley Matthews hit two 3-pointers down the stretch to bring Utah to within six with 30 seconds left. But, the Thunder made six straight free throws to ice the game.

Utah got as close as 75-70 in the third quarter but the Thunder used an 11-3 run to take an 86-73 lead. Durant hit Oklahoma City’s first three of the game at the 4:54 mark of the third quarter. The Thunder led by 11 points to begin the fourth quarter.

Oklahoma City used a 12-5 run in the first quarter to take a 27-19 lead. Utah closed the gap on the strength of a 7-2 spurt to pull to within three points.

The Thunder took advantage of a four-and-a half minute scoring drought by the Jazz in the second quarter. Oklahoma City reeled off eight straight to take its biggest lead of the game up to that point, 43-31.

Utah coach Jerry Sloan received a technical foul with 1:40 left in the half for arguing a foul call.

Mathews had 29 points for the Jazz.