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Durant soars late as Thunder rattle Spurs
Source: Agencies |
June 4, 2012, Monday
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KEVIN Durant's unstoppable fourth-quarter explosion lifted the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 109-103 victory over the recently unbeatable San Antonio Spurs on Saturday and leveled the Western Conference finals series at 2-2.
With visiting San Antonio on the heels of the Thunder in the final quarter, Durant ran off 16 straight points and finished with a game-high 36 to give Oklahoma City a second straight home win and turn up the heat in the best-of-seven series.
"Once a player of that caliber, with that much talent starts scoring it's hard to stop him," Spurs forward Stephen Jackson told reporters after trying unsuccessfully to contain Durant. "He got into a nice rhythm and got rolling. It was too late."
San Antonio was on a 20-game win streak, the longest ever combining the regular season and playoffs, and looked in total control of the West matchup before dropping the last two on the road.
Tim Duncan scored 21 points to lead the way for the Spurs but they fell behind by 12 at halftime and their late rally fell short.
After the visitors trimmed the deficit to four, Durant's personal run stretched it back to nine and all but clinched the victory.
Lost in Durant's heroics was an unlikely performance from teammate Serge Ibaka, who recorded a career-high 26 points and made all 11 of his field goal attempts.
Ibaka caught fire, repeatedly making open perimeter shots, and made up for quiet nights from Russell Westbrook and James Harden, who combined for just 18 points between them. "He didn't miss a shot? Wow," Durant said of Ibaka's play. "He played phenomenal."
The Spurs will have their chance to respond with Game 5 in San Antonio, Texas, tomorrow (Shanghai time).
With visiting San Antonio on the heels of the Thunder in the final quarter, Durant ran off 16 straight points and finished with a game-high 36 to give Oklahoma City a second straight home win and turn up the heat in the best-of-seven series.
"Once a player of that caliber, with that much talent starts scoring it's hard to stop him," Spurs forward Stephen Jackson told reporters after trying unsuccessfully to contain Durant. "He got into a nice rhythm and got rolling. It was too late."
San Antonio was on a 20-game win streak, the longest ever combining the regular season and playoffs, and looked in total control of the West matchup before dropping the last two on the road.
Tim Duncan scored 21 points to lead the way for the Spurs but they fell behind by 12 at halftime and their late rally fell short.
After the visitors trimmed the deficit to four, Durant's personal run stretched it back to nine and all but clinched the victory.
Lost in Durant's heroics was an unlikely performance from teammate Serge Ibaka, who recorded a career-high 26 points and made all 11 of his field goal attempts.
Ibaka caught fire, repeatedly making open perimeter shots, and made up for quiet nights from Russell Westbrook and James Harden, who combined for just 18 points between them. "He didn't miss a shot? Wow," Durant said of Ibaka's play. "He played phenomenal."
The Spurs will have their chance to respond with Game 5 in San Antonio, Texas, tomorrow (Shanghai time).
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