NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Kevin Durant scored 28 points and Russell Westbrook contributed 17 points and 10 assists as the Oklahoma City Thunder stormed to a 102-74 home victory over the short-handed Orlando Magic on Sunday.
“That was about as good as we could possibly play,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks told reporters before adding he felt the strong ball movement, Oklahoma accumulated 27 assists, had helped contribute to the dominant performance.
Guard Thabo Sefolosha added 13 points and 10 rebounds with centre Nenad Krstic scoring 14 points despite dislocating a finger on his left hand.
Krstic made four of five shots in the first quarter, then scored six more once he returned after having the finger treated. His shooting forced Magic centre Dwight Howard to move outside to challenge him, while the rest of the team gave him time to make his shots.
“Nenad can keep him on the defensive end and come out and space the floor out and he (Krstic) shot the ball well,” Brooks said. “We were doing a great job of finding him and setting screens for him.”
Orlando (5-2) were without injured shooting guard Vince Carter and power forward Ryan Anderson, and suspended forward Rashard Lewis, and shot only 36.8 per cent from the floor. Howard top scored with 20 points.
“This team just doesn’t play very hard,” Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. “We’re a white-collar team right now and those kinds of teams won’t win on the road or when you’re not shooting well.”
The Thunder built a 53-44 halftime lead, then increased the margin to 22 points in the third quarter, when they outscored the Magic 26-13.
Oklahoma City (3-3) led by as many as 33 points in the fourth quarter, forcing an exasperated Van Gundy to shout: “Play some defence!” at his team.
