Thunder roll over Wolves after late burst

MINNESOTA, (Reuters) – Kevin Durant scored 30 points   and added 11 rebounds as the Oklahoma City Thunder dug   themselves out of an early hole to stun the Minnesota   Timberwolves 111-103 on Wednesday.

Oklahoma fell behind by 19 in the second quarter and was   still down 13 in the third before surging ahead in the final   period and holding off the Timberwolves.

“We’ve made a lot of progression as far as being a team,”   Durant told reporters. “I remember a couple of years ago we   were down 16 here in the first quarter and gave up.”

Durant, the NBA’s leading scorer, made a 17-foot jumper   and a three-pointer to give Oklahoma City a 107-103 lead with   1:02 remaining and the Thunder sealed the win at the free   throw line to improve to 15-8 on the season.

Russell Westbrook scored 14 of his 25 points in the third   quarter to help the Thunder claw their way back and send   Minnesota (5-17) to its eighth loss in nine games.

Michael Beasley had 26 points while Kevin Love had 22 and   21 rebounds — his fifth 20-20 performance of the season – for   the Timberwolves.

The leading rebounder in the NBA, Love has grabbed at   least 15 rebounds in eight straight games.

Minnesota scored 40 points in the first quarter to take a   40-22 lead but managed just 39 second-half points to let the   game slip away.

The Thunder were able to turn up their defense in the   second half and reserve Serge Ibaka sparked the team with   eight blocks.

“Not only did he get eight, but he probably altered five   or six more,” said Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks. “I   thought defensively in the second half we were as good as   we’ve been all year.”