Durant scores 35 to lead OKC over Cleveland

(The Sports Xchange) — MVP candidate Kevin Durant finished with 35 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 102-95 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Durant, the forward who is the league’s leading scorer at 31.9 points per game, scored 25 of more points for the 33rd consecutive game.

It is the longest streak of its kind since Michael Jordan had a 40-game run in 1986-87. Power forward Serge Ibaka added 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Thunder (50-18).

Shooting guard Dion Waiters matched his season high with 30 points and added four assists for Cleveland (26-43).

The Cavaliers’ postseason hopes are almost dead, as they fell 6 1/2 games behind Atlanta for the eighth and last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Cleveland used a late 21-2 run to pull within 97-92 with 1:12 to play but Durant sealed the game for Oklahoma City my sinking five-of-six foul shots in the last minute.