Thunder 103, Kings 92
THUNDER 103, KINGS 92: Kevin Durant made an MVP-like statement with 29 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists as visiting Oklahoma City kept pace with the San Antonio Spurs atop the Western Conference. Sacramento has dropped nine of its last 10.
James Harden added 20 points and Russell Westbrook scored 18 for the Thunder (46-17), who remained one-half game behind the Spurs (46-16) with three games left in the regular season.
The Kings were playing their second-to-last game at Power Balance Pavilion. With the deal for a new arena falling through and negotiations between ownership and the city of Sacramento contentious, the regular-season finale next Thursday could mark the last home game in the building.
Oklahoma City ended the first quarter with an 8-2 burst for a 32-25 cushion and never trailed again. Harden scored 11 in the second quarter to keep the Thunder in the lead, 57-49, at the half.
The Kings made a pair of runs in the third but were held off as Durant knocked down two 3-pointers early. Westbrook scored six points during a 12-2 burst that pushed the margin to 79-66.
Sacramento never got closer than eight points in the final minutes, and Durant scored five points in the final 1:07 to put it away.
GAME NOTEBOOK: DeMarcus Cousins overcame a 3-for-14 first half to finish with 18 points on 8-of-21 shooting, leading the Kings. … The Thunder shot 53.3 percent from the field and overcame 17 turnovers. … Sacramento (20-43) is tied with the New Orleans Hornets (20-43) for the worst record in the West.