NBA: Nuggets outlast Thunder in Northwest Division showdown

Oklahoma City came in riding a six-game win streak and were armed with the best record in the league, before suffering their ninth loss, versus 32 wins. Denver improved to 25-18 after losing back-to-back games. 

 

The Nuggets led by as much as 11 points in the fourth quarter, 107-96, following free throws by Corey Brewer. In response, Russell Westbrook scored on two consecutive possessions, before setting up Kevin Durant for a triple, to make it a four-point game, 107-103. 

 

After a Kendrik Perkins blocked shot, Durant snared the rebound, and then tallied an assist, finding sixth man Kevin Martin for yet another triple, to slice their deficit to a single point, 107-106, 1:26 left. 

 

Westbrook then turned the ball over, which led to a pair of free throws by Danilo Gallinari. The polarizing guard made amends however, canning the game-tying triple with 22.9 to go. Then on the last play of regulation, suffocating defense resulted in the Nuggets failing to even get a shot off, leading to five extra minutes of play.

 

A split at the line by Kevin Durant gave the Thunder a slim 116-115 lead, 1:44 remaining, but one that was swiftly erased by a lay-up by Kenneth Faried. Durant missed a triple on the next possession, which forced to Thunder to put the forward at the line. Luckily for them, Faried missed both, but their good fortune was wasted as Nick Collison committed a turnover, to give the ball back with 5.4 ticks left.

 

Andre Miller canned both freebies, to put the home team up by three, 119-116, but Durant got to the line quickly for a pair of charities. Another fast foul led to two Wilson Chandler free throws, to keep it a three-point game. Burning their final timeout, Durant missed anew from long-range, and Westbrook's second-chance attempt was blocked by Brewer as time expired.

 

The two teams fought back and forth for much of the game, resulting in 12 lead changes and 20 ties. 

 

Seven Nuggets finished in double-digit scoring, led by Corey Brewer's scintillating shooting. The forward hit 9-of-17 for a team-best 26 markers. Gallinari added 18, nine on three-pointers, while Kenneth Faried and Kosta Koufos combined for 26 points and 21 rebounds. 

 

Kevin Durant posted a game-best 37 points, but was 7-of-20 from the field, 3-of-10 from downtown, though he was helped out by a 20-of-21 clip at the stripe. He also added seven rebounds, eight assists and two steals. Russell Westbrook was close behind, with 36 markers, eight rebounds and nine dimes, though he turned the ball over seven times. 

 

The Thunder had a 48-34 free throw advantage, but the Nuggets compensated with a nine more offensive boards, allowing them to double the Thunder's nine second-chance points. - AMD, GMA News