Durant drops 48 as Thunder escape Wolves
By Homer D. Sayson
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 06 Jan 2014
CHICAGO -- Unhappy with his team's two-game slide, Kevin Durant did what he does best -- score in bunches.
KD, a 4-time All-Star and 3-time scoring champion, made 16 of 32 field goals for 48 points and the Thunder edged the Minnesota Timberwolves, 115-111, Saturday night at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
The 6-foot-11 Durant made an amazing array of shots but none more impressive than the step-back jumper he drilled in the final four seconds that broke a 111-111 tie. Wolves All-Star Kevin Love missed three free throws in the ensuing possession and Durant sealed the win with two free throws.
"He (Durant) is a great player. He makes shots from a lot of different angles. He puts a lot of pressure on you. When he gets going like that, he's pulling up from 30-35 feet and knocking them down," Timberwolves head coach Rick Adelman told NBA.com.
Although Durant played like a one-man army, he did get plenty of reinforcement.
Derek Fisher came off the bench with 13 points while Serge Ibaka stepped in with 12. Reggie Jackson started at point for the injured Russell Westbrook and turned in 10 and four assists while back-up center Steven Adams added 10 more plus nine rebounds.
It was the Thunder's first win in their last three starts and they improved to 25-7.
Nikola Pekovic finished with 31 and 11 boards and Love accounted for 30 and 14 rebounds for the Wolves, huge efforts that obviously couldn't overcome Durant's explosion. The Wolves, who dropped to 16-17, also got 13 points from Corey Brewer. (Homer D. Sayson)
Photo: Thunder forwards Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka swarm over Wolves Center Nikola Pekovic at the Target Center.
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