Oklahoma City Falls Short Against Sacramento

Originally Published: Nov 11, 2009 12:24 AM CDT

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Andrew Topps
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

SACRAMENTO, California -- Kevin Durant scored a season-high 37 points, but it was not enough as the Oklahoma City Thunder fell 101-98 to the Sacramento Kings.

Durant missed a game-tying 3-pointer with a second left in the game. He did make all 18 of his free throws. Oklahoma City lost for the fourth time in five games since opening the season with consecutive wins.

Durant’s 3-pointer with 4.4 seconds left pulled the Thunder to within 99-98. Fouled immediately after the basket, Tyreke Evans made two free throws to give the Kings a three-point lead.

After the Thunder cut the lead to 95-93 on Durant's two free throws, Evans made a long jumper and rookie Omri Casspi scored on a breakaway dunk following a Thunder turnover, giving the Kings a 99-93 lead with 1:17 remaining.

The game evolved into a free-throw shooting contest for much of the second half between two of the NBA's youngest teams. The Thunder shot just 39 percent, but connected on 30-of-35 free throws.

Durant, who picked up two early fouls, struggled to find his shot the entire first half. Pestered frequently by the aggressive defense of Andres Nocioni, the Thunder's leading scorer missed 8-of-11 shots in the opening half.

But Durant did get going in the third quarter, penetrating frequently and drawing fouls. He made all nine free throws and scored 15 points, including the final 10 for the Thunder.

The Kings made all 14 free throws in a foul-plagued third quarter. Jason Thompson scored eight points for Sacramento, which took an 83-77 lead into the fourth. Thompson finished with 21 points and 14 rebounds.

Rookie James Harden made a 47-footer at the buzzer to end the first half.