Durant's 25 leads Thunder over Spurs 101-98
Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook drives to the basket as San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker of France, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Bahram Mark Sobhani)
(Bahram Mark Sobhani - AP)
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Saturday, November 14, 2009; 11:32 PM
SAN ANTONIO -- Kevin Durant scored 25 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder spoiled the return of Tim Duncan and Tony Parker in a 101-98 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night.
Jeff Green added 21 points for the Thunder, who handed the Spurs their first home loss in five games this season despite Duncan and Parker back in the lineup after missing two games with ankle injuries.
Russell Westbrook had 19 points and 11 assists, and his one-handed runner with 45.9 seconds left that gave Oklahoma City a crucial two-possession lead down the stretch.
Duncan had 22 points and 10 rebounds but attempted just one shot in the fourth.
Parker scored 17 and missed a 3-point heave at the buzzer, just past midcourt, that would have forced overtime.
The Spurs had other chances.
Trailing 97-94 with 26.9 seconds left, the Spurs recovered a botched inbound pass by Thabo Sefolosha and Richard Jefferson went full steam the other way. But Jefferson dribbled the ball off his knee in the end of a low-key night for the San Antonio newcomer.
Jefferson finished with four points and took just four shots in 35 minutes. With Duncan and Parker out earlier this week, Jefferson averaged 26.5 points in victories over Toronto and Dallas.
Durant was just 6 of 18 from the floor but made 13 of 15 free throws. Wesbrook scored 14 of his points in the second half, including 11 in the third quarter when the Thunder came back from a seven-point halftime deficit.
Nenad Krstic added 11 points from the Thunder.
Parker and Duncan had not played since losing at Portland on Nov. 6, when both suffered injuries to their left ankles.
Duncan answered any doubts about his health with three dunks - usually a few game's worth for the reserved future Hall of Famer. Duncan shot 9 of 14 from the field in 37 minutes, while Parker shot 7 of 18 and had five assists.
George Hill scored 18 off the bench for the Spurs.
Fortunately for the Spurs, they won't be packing their bags much over the next three weeks. The Spurs play seven of their next nine at home, with their only road games during that stretch at Dallas and Houston.
In other words, the Spurs won't be leaving the Lone Star State again until Dec. 7.
NOTES: Ginobili announced earlier this week that wife Many is expecting twins. Considering what Ginobili has given the Spurs over the years, might Spurs coach Gregg Popovich stick around to coach his kids? "I think they might play for Jerry Sloan," Popovich quipped. ... Westbrook had his fourth game with 10 or more assists this season.
