NBA: KD in seventh heaven with another 40+ game
Oklahoma City Thunder tightened their grip at the top of the Western Conference Northwest Division with a 112-100 victory over New York Knicks on Sunday.
OKC’s Kevin Durant, for the seventh time this season produced a 40+ points tally, with 41 points, and tidied up his statline with ten rebounds and nine assists, while Raymond Felton and Amar’e Stoudemire top scored for New York with 16 points apiece.
Nikola Vučević had 19 points and 13 rebounds as Orlando Magic battled back from a 17-point deficit to edge a 93-92 victory over Central leaders, the Indiana Pacers, to extend their winning streak to three matches.
Los Angeles Clippers produced a record 123-78 win at home to the Philadelphia 76ers – the largest margin of victory in Clippers’ franchise history.
Blake Griffin put Philly to the sword, in their sixth straight defeat, with 26 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for the Clippers at Staples Center.
Chicago Bulls’ centre Joakim Noah scored 20 points and 13 rebounds on their way to defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 92-86.
20 points for Dirk Nowitzki helped the Dallas Mavericks run out 102-91 winners over the Boston Celtics to record a fifth consecutive victory in the Southwest Division. For Rajon Rondo, his 4,000th career assist came in the second quarter for Boston – becoming just the sixth Celtic to reach that milestone.
In the other games of the night, Brooklyn Nets cruised to a 93-81 victory over the struggling New Orleans Pelicans, the Cleveland Cavaliers won 91-83 at home to the Memphis Grizzlies, and the Washington Wizards on their home court overcame the Sacramento Kings 93-84.