National Basketball Association
Oklahoma City 114, Phoenix 96
When: 8:00 PM ET, Monday, December 31, 2012
Where: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Officials:
#25 Tony Brothers, #54 Nick Buchert, #38 Michael Smith
Attendance:
18203
By SportsDirect Inc.
Thunder 114, Suns 96: Kevin Durant had a game-high 30 points and Russell Westbrook overcame a cut over his right eye to score 12 of his 24 in the third quarter as Oklahoma City pulled away from Phoenix for its 12th consecutive home victory.
Serge Ibaka had 16 points and Thabo Sefolosha added 14 for the Thunder, who have defeated the Suns in seven straight meetings.
Luis Scola followed his season-high 33-point performance versus Minnesota by scoring 14 of his 24 points during the third quarter. Goran Dragic added 16 points and eight assists for Phoenix, which has dropped six in a row and nine straight on the road.
Nursing a 54-53 halftime advantage, Oklahoma City stormed out of the locker room by scoring the first 12 points of the third quarter. Durant ignited the surge with a jumper and joined Sefolosha with four points as the Thunder held strong while Westbrook received stitches.
Markieff Morris scored his team's first five points in the fourth quarter to bring Phoenix within two at 85-83. Nick Collison answered by making two quick buckets and setting up Sefolosha for a 3-pointer as Oklahoma City regained a seven-point cushion midway through the session.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Despite being plagued by back spasms, Suns C Jermaine O'Neal had 12 points in 17 minutes. ... Phoenix previously lost nine road contests in a row from Feb. 17-March 13, 1988. ... Oklahoma City improved to 20-0 when entering the fourth quarter with a lead.
Top Game Performances
Phoenix |
|
Oklahoma City |
Luis Scola 24 |
Scoring |
Kevin Durant 30 |
Goran Dragic 8 |
Assists |
Russell Westbrook 9 |
Marcin Gortat 10 |
Rebounds |
Nick Collison 9 |
Goran Dragic 4 |
Free Throws Made |
Russell Westbrook 9 |
Shannon Brown 1 |
Steals |
Kevin Durant 2 |
Goran Dragic 1 |
Blocks |
Serge Ibaka 2 |
Team Stats Summary
Team |
Points |
FG% |
3PM-3PA |
FTM-FTA |
Assists |
Rebounds |
Blocks |
Steals |
Turnovers |
Phoenix
|
96 |
47.4 |
8-24 |
14-17 |
19 |
41 |
3 |
3 |
15 |
Oklahoma City
|
114 |
50.6 |
5-15 |
21-24 |
23 |
43 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
Upcoming Games
-
Oklahoma City will play their next game at home against Brooklyn. The Thunder have a W/L % of .792 after a win and .833 after a loss.
-
Phoenix will play their next game at home against Philadelphia. The Suns have a W/L % of .417 after a win and .300 after a loss.