Durant, Westbrook lead Thunder past Jazz

[March 14, 2013]  OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Kevin Durant had 23 points and 10 rebounds, Russell Westbrook scored 19 points and the Oklahoma City cruised to a 110-87 victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night.

Kevin Martin added 15 points for Oklahoma City, which improved to 25-8 at home. The Thunder led 29-19 after one quarter and 50-28 at halftime.

Gordon Hayward scored 20 points to lead Utah, and Enes Kanter had 12. The Jazz lost for the eighth time in 10 games, but remained one-half game behind the Los Angeles Lakers for eighth place in the West.

Durant struggled early, recording more turnovers (6) than points (5) through the first 22 minutes. The NBA's leading scorer didn't convert until 3.8 seconds left in the first quarter and finished the half with eight points.

Westbrook picked up the slack, leading all scorers with 13 points at the break and adding five assists. The Thunder All-Star was able to keep the offense attacking while Durant struggled and Utah had problems of its own.

Durant found his rhythm in the third quarter, scoring nine of Oklahoma City's first 11 points and 15 overall to push the Thunder's lead to 32.

His only assist of the night came during halftime when he helped an elderly fan to her feet after she had fallen courtside.

Durant also had eight turnovers, including six in the first half.

The Jazz shot 35 percent from the floor, committing 24 turnovers and getting outrebounded 37-22.

Before the game, Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks said Utah's big men would pose the greatest challenge to his team. The Thunder wound up scoring 38 points in the paint and held Utah's frontcourt of Demarre Carroll, Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson to just 15 points.

Millsap, who scored seven points to go with seven rebounds played for the first time since Friday in Chicago after missing two games with inflammation in his right knee. The Jazz were also without backup point guard Jamaal Tinsley, who missed his second game due to illness.

NOTES: Oklahoma City has won nine of its last 12 games. ... Utah slipped to 10-24 on the road. ... Five technical fouls and two flagrant fouls were called on the night.

[Associated Press]

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