Los Angeles, CA – Kevin Durant poured in a game-high 42 points to go with eight rebounds and five assists on Friday, as the Oklahoma City Thunder routed the reeling Los Angeles Lakers, 116-101, at Staples Center.
Russell Westbrook posted a double-double with 27 points and 10 assists, while Kevin Martin added 15 points for the Thunder, who have won four of their last five.
"A great team win for us," Durant remarked. "My teammates did a good job of getting me the ball. We moved the ball so well which makes it easy for everybody."
Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 28 points and Antawn Jamison donated 19 points and 10 rebounds for Los Angeles, which has lost six straight for the first time since a seven-game slide from March 2-15, 2007.
A back-and-forth first quarter found the teams locked at 25-25 after 12 minutes. A Durant free throw re-tied the game early in the second before Martin netted five straight points to provide the Thunder with a 36-31 advantage.
Los Angeles trimmed the deficit to three after a Metta World Peace layup a bit later, but the Thunder answered with a 7-0 surge, capped by Martin's corner 3-pointer to make it 47-37 with 5:17 left in the half.
OKC pulled away for good late in the frame, as a 9-0 surge quickly turned a slim five-point edge into a 59-45 advantage with 1:24 left in the second.
Durant then knocked down a 3-pointer with under a second remaining in the half to send the Thunder into the break holding a comfortable 64-48 advantage.
Los Angeles never threatened in the second half, as the Thunder scored the first six points of the third to push the margin to 22.
Oklahoma City carried a 93-73 advantage into the fourth before cruising to victory over the final 12 minutes.
"We played hard the whole game, but they were just better," Lakers head coach Mike D'Antoni admitted. "They were just longer, faster, better team-wise and we crumbled away."
Game Notes
The Thunder have won both meetings this season after beating the Lakers in five games in last year's Western Conference semifinals ... Lakers forward Jordan Hill missed his third straight game because of an injured left hip that will require season-ending surgery ... World Peace added 12 points in the loss ... Westbrook also grabbed seven rebounds.
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