Thunder 102, Cavaliers 95
Kevin Durant poured in 35 points as Oklahoma City fended off host Cleveland despite playing without Russell Westbrook.
Durant shot 12-of-21 from the floor and scored 25 or more points for the 33rd consecutive game while adding 11 rebounds and six assists for the Thunder, who nearly squandered a 24-point fourth-quarter lead. Serge Ibaka added 16 points, 11 boards and three blocked shots while Reggie Jackson contributed 13 points.
Dion Waiters tied a season high with 30 points for the Cavaliers, who have dropped three in a row and seven of nine. Spencer Hawes added 20 while Matthew Dellavedova added 11 to go along with a career-best 10 assists.
The Thunder enjoyed a 10-point lead at the half but found another gear in the third quarter, hitting seven straight shots over a span of nearly four minutes - highlighted by Durant and Jackson 3-pointers - to turn a 61-50 advantage into a 77-61 bulge. The lead grew to as many as 24 on a Caron Butler 3-pointer with 6:33 remaining, and the Thunder held on despite Cleveland going on a 12-0 run and closing to within five on a Waiters layup with 1:12 left.
Durant was a one-man show in the first half, erupting for 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting to help the Thunder go into the break with a 56-46 advantage. Hawes and Waiters had 10 points apiece for the Cavaliers.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Westbrook missed the game to rest with the Thunder playing again in Toronto on Friday. Thunder head coach Scott Brooks has said Westbrook would not play both ends of a back-to-back for the rest of the season. ... The Cavaliers were without starting PG Kyrie Irving (biceps strain) and SF Luol Deng (ankle) as well as G C.J. Miles (ankle). ... Oklahoma City finished with a 53-36 rebounding advantage.