Thunder 101, Hornets 93
THUNDER 101, HORNETS 93: Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook scored 31 points apiece as host Oklahoma City opened a big lead in the third quarter and held on.
Jarret Jack scored 18 points for New Orleans, which had its three three-game winning streak snapped.
The Thunder dominated most of the game one night after a historic performance in an overtime win over Denver. Oklahoma City became the first team in NBA history to have both a 50-point and 40-point scorer and another player record a triple-double. Durant scored a career-high 51 points while Westbrook added 40 and Serge Ibaka reached double figures in points, rebounds and blocked shots.
Oklahoma City didn't need any such heroics against the Hornets. The Thunder went ahead for good early in the first quarter and built a 13-point lead. Oklahoma City pushed the margin to 24 points in the third quarter.
New Orleans cut the lead to 97-91 on Jack's jumper with 1:04 remaining, but Westbrook hit four free throws in the final minute.
GAME NOTEBOOK: New Orleans began a stretch of three games in three nights. The Hornets play in Indiana on Tuesday and in Cleveland on Wednesday. ... Oklahoma City dressed only 10 players as key reserves James Harden (sprained left ankle) and Nick Collison (left quad contusion) missed the game.