KD’s 36 leads OKC’s victory, tops Friday’s S&Ds

Kevin Durant’s confidence never wavered.

Even as he misfired on his first five 3-pointers Friday night, Oklahoma City’s leading scorer was determined to keep shooting.

Durant hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 53 seconds left to give the Thunder the lead for good in a 101-94 victory over Memphis. 

It was part of a mammoth 36-point, 10-rebound effort for Durant, who scored the game’s final seven points to allow the Thunder to pull away for the victory.

“The 3s I was shooting looked good but I was missing,” Durant told the Associated Press. “It was just a matter of time before one was going to go down for me. I shot the ball right and it was able to go in.”

The Thunder trailed by 10 points late in the third quarter. Durant’s big finish enabled them to post a 32-17 edge in the fourth quarter as they claimed their sixth victory in their last seven games heading into their big matchup with the Spurs Saturday night.

And it also enabled him to lead Friday’s Studs and Duds.  

STUDS

Oklahoma City F Kevin Durant: Erupted for 36 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, three blocks, two steals and was a team-best plus-13 in the Thunder’s victory over Memphis.

Indiana F Paul George: Notched 30 points, nine rebounds, five assists, five steals and was plus-16 in the Pacers’ win at Dallas. 

Minnesota C Nikola Pekovic: Muscled for 27 points, 11 rebounds and was a team-best plus-11 in  the Timberwolves’ triumph at New Jersey.

Miami F LeBron James: Went for 19 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, two blocks and was plus-19 in the Heat’s victory at Philadelphia.

New Jersey G Anthony Morrow: Notched 42 points, four rebounds, two assists and was plus-7 in the Nets’ loss to Minnesota.

DUDS

Cleveland G Mychel Thompson: Missed all six shots and was minus-16 in the Cavaliers’ loss at Orlando.

New Jersey G Deron Williams: Went 5 for 18 from the field with six turnovers and was a team-worst minus-10 in the Nets’ loss to Minnesota.

Boston G Rajon Rondo: Went 3 for 8 from the field with five turnovers and was a team-worst minus-8 in the Celtics’ victory over New York.

Denver F Danilo Gallinari: Clanked through a 1-for-9 shooting effort with a turnover and was minus-1 in the Nuggets’ loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Washington G Jordan Crawford: Struggled witha 4-for-13 shooting night with three turnovers and was a team-worst minus-17 in the Wizards’ loss at Toronto.

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