| |
|
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.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
IBF Pan Pacific champion Vince Paras set to face unbeaten OPBF champion Aoi Yokoyama in Kyrgyzstan
, Sun, 22 Mar 2026King James sets NBA all-time record for most games played
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 22 Mar 2026Loaded boxing schedule
By Joaquin Henson, , Sun, 22 Mar 2026WEIGHTS, IMAGES, RUNNING ORDER AND THE LAST WORDS AHEAD OF ADAMES VS. WILLIAMS IN ORLANDO
, Sat, 21 Mar 2026COPPER BOX ARENA FIGHT NIGHT: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS LIDDARD AND DENNY FACE-OFF FOR FINAL TIME
, Sat, 21 Mar 2026Weights From ‘Martinez vs. Aleem’ Event from the NOS Event Center in San Bernardino and Broadcast live on ProBoxTV
, Sat, 21 Mar 2026Jordan Orozco Training Camp Notes
, Sat, 21 Mar 2026Towns vs. Bordin for PAT Belt; De Barbo, Nancholas, Samiei in Supporting Bouts at Brico Santig's Exciting Show in Pattaya Beach, Thailand
By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026YOENIS TELLEZ TRAINING CAMP QUOTES
, Fri, 20 Mar 2026Lebron James ties the most game played in NBA history
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026Pichay supports GM Antonio's Australian chess circuit campaign
By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026LIDDARD-DENNY PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES IN FULL: EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID AHEAD OF SATURDAY'S COPPER BOX FIGHT NIGHT
, Fri, 20 Mar 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: The WBC Continues the Fight for the Good of the Sport
By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026AMMO: ADAMES FIGHT WILL BE EXPLOSIVE
, Fri, 20 Mar 2026Carlos De Leon Training Camp Notes
, Fri, 20 Mar 2026The Highly Anticipated Box Fan Expo Invitational 2026 Returns with A USA Boxing Amateur Show
, Fri, 20 Mar 2026Placibe, Sales tops Sprint Challenge
By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026Lester Martinez vs. Immanuwel Aleem Los Angeles Media Day Quotes
, Thu, 19 Mar 2026MAPUA, PSKAI R-10 to play in Best of Best
By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 19 Mar 2026IIEE Metro East dominates the 4th D’ Engineers’ Darts Cup 2026
By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 19 Mar 2026LIDDARD: WHY I'M RUNNING MATCHROOM HALF MARATHON AFTER TITLE DEFENCE AGAINST DENNY
, Thu, 19 Mar 2026Press Conference Notes: DAZN and Top Rank Sign Multi-Year Rights Deal
, Thu, 19 Mar 2026DAZN and Top Rank announce a landmark multi-year media rights deal bringing elite events and a storied archive to DAZN users worldwide
, Thu, 19 Mar 2026Sampson Boxing Signs Top Junior Lightweight Contender Charly Suarez to a Promotional Contract
, Thu, 19 Mar 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 17 MARCH 2026: Collazo Stops Haro; Fundora KO Ruiz; Barboza Outpoints Sims; Cacace UD Dickens
By Eric Armit, , Wed, 18 Mar 2026 |
|
|
|
|
|
