Durant sinks Warriors with career-best outing
Updated: 2014-01-19 07:21
By Associated Press in Oklahoma City(China Daily)
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Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant keeps the ball away from Golden State Warrior Andre Iguodala during the second quarter in Oklahoma City on Friday. Mark D. Smith / USA TODAY Sports |
Kevin Durant drained three three-pointers in 75 seconds. And when the crowd wanted even more, the NBA's leading scorer responded.
Durant poured in a career-high 54 points in an incredibly efficient performance, helping the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Golden State Warriors 127-121 on Friday night.
The 6-foot-9 forward had 11 points during one two-minute stretch in the fourth quarter, powering the Thunder to a 17-point lead.
With the crowd of 18,203 chanting "MVP! MVP!" he made two foul shots with 2:45 remaining to establish a new career-best scoring total.
"When you've got it going, I look at the bench and see how my teammates are reacting, and that just gives me an extra push," Durant said. "Then I hear the fans."
Durant made 19 of 28 field goals and 11 of 13 free throws in his third straight game with at least 36 points.
"As a leader, my main objective is to serve my teammates, help them out," he said. "Some nights, I have got to put it up, I have got to score. Some nights, I've got to do other things.
"Tonight, they found me and I was able to hit a few shots. I just tried to do as best as I can to lead the team and lead us to victory."
It was the kind of performance that gets fans fired up about postseason awards in mid-January.
"It's premature," Durant said. "It's way too early in the season. I try not to think about that type of stuff. Of course, as a player, you would love to win an MVP award, but I can't take my focus off the team."
Serge Ibaka had 21 points and eight rebounds, Reggie Jackson scored 14 points and Kendrick Perkins added 12 rebounds for the Thunder (30-10), who won for the third time in four games.
Oklahoma City shot 58 percent from the field and scored a season-high point total.
Stephen Curry had 37 points and 11 assists, and Klay Thompson added 26 points for the Warriors (25-16), who shot 52 percent but simply couldn't match up with Durant.
Golden State coach Mark Jackson was disappointed with his team's defense.
"We are a good enough defensive team to give a little better effort, fight a little bit harder," Jackson said.
Durant gave his teammates credit.
"It's the small things that go into a game to help us win, and everybody did them tonight," he said.
(China Daily 01/19/2014 page12)