Thunder 117, Mavericks 114 (OT)
Thunder 117, Mavericks 114 (OT): Kevin Durant erupted for a career-high 52 points as visiting Oklahoma City won a thriller over Dallas.
After Mavericks guard O.J. Mayo tied the game on a desperation 3-pointer with two seconds remaining, the teams engaged in a spirited back-and-forth overtime. Durant's 3-pointer with 2:04 left gave the Thunder their first lead of the extra period, and he knocked down a 15-footer with 58 seconds to go for his second career 50-point performance.
The three-time scoring champion capped his virtuoso performance with a floater in the lane with 16 seconds left that gave the Thunder a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Dallas had a final chance to extend the game, but Vince Carter misfired on a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Durant made all 21 free throws he attempted while going 5-for-9 from 3-point range to surpass the 51 points he scored against Denver last Feb. 12. Russell Westbrook added 31 points while Serge Ibaka and Kevin Martin chipped in with 11 apiece.
Carter's 29 points paced the Mavericks, while Dirk Nowitzki and Mayo added 18 each.
Trailing by nine heading into the fourth, Dallas made quick work of the deficit, taking a 92-89 lead on the strength of six straight Nowitzki points. The teams then traded leads down the stretch, with Durant's 40th and 41st points of the night putting the Thunder ahead 101-98 with 1:15 left and setting the stage for the frenetic finish.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Durant's 52 points are an NBA season high. ... Fred Brown holds the Seattle/Oklahoma City franchise record with 58 points against the Golden State Warriors on March 23, 1974. ... The Thunder had just 13 assists on 39 made shots.