Thunder 106, Trail Blazers 90
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Kevin Durant scored 24 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 106-90 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers Wednesday at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Durant shot 8 of 14 from the field to go along with seven rebounds and four assists. Six players for the Thunder scored in doubles figures. That included guard Dion Waiters, who came off the bench to pour in 18 points and grab six rebounds. Guard Russell Westbrook and forward Serge Ibaka each scored 13 points as Oklahoma City (17-8) won their sixth straight game. That is currently the longest in the NBA.
Guard CJ McCollum led the Blazers with 24 points on 9 of 18 shooting. Guard Damian Lillard added 20 points. Forward Mason Plumlee scored 14 points in the loss.
McCollum had the Thunder on their heels to start the game. He lit them up for 12 points in the first eight minutes. He and Lillard combined to score 21 points in the first quarter.
The Thunder responded with a balanced scoring attack. Even though none of them hit double figures in the first half, six players scored at least six points as Oklahoma City took a 52-45 halftime advantage.
The second half was all about Oklahoma City's defense. After the fast start by Portland's backcourt, Lillard and McCollum were held to just eight points in the third quarter.
That left scoring duties to Plumlee. But Thunder centers Steven Adams and Nick Collison took turns getting physical with him and keeping him off the boards.
While Portland struggled to find consistent scoring, the Thunder had their pick of players to go to. But it was Durant who broke loose in the third quarter for 15 points. That included shaking Portland forward Allen Crabbe for a few lethal midrange jumpers.
With the Thunder leading by 21 points at the end of the quarter, the Oklahoma City starters were done for the rest of the night.
Oklahoma City has now held seven straight opponents under 100 points.
NOTES: Oklahoma City F Kevin Durant was asked if he's trying to extend his range after launching 30-foot jumpers during shootaround. "I always have range when I step in the gym," Durant replied. ... Portland G Damian Lillard is impressed with the way that different players have contributed this season. "We've seen so many guys step up in different games," Lillard said. "(It) shows that down the line when we grow and kind of put this thing together a little bit more, we see what guys can do now so we see how it can payoff later." ... After committing 21 turnovers in a win over Sacramento, Oklahoma City averaged only 12.5 turnovers in its next four games. "I think we've been taking care of the ball the last five or six games," Thunder G Russell Westbrook said. "We're just doing a much better job of being conscious to take care of the basketball and that's giving us more opportunities to score and obviously taken away more chances for teams to score on us."