Sports FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2017 43 Durant’s 40 points silences Thunder OAKLAND: Kevin Durant took it to his for- mer team on Wednesday, erupting for 40 points to propel the Golden State Warriors to a 121-100 NBA triumph over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Durant, who scored 39 points in the Warriors 26-point win over the Thunder in November, was brutally efficient, connecting on 13 of his 16 shots from the field, including five of seven from three- point range. He had 12 rebounds, four assists and three blocks to help the Warriors with- stand Thunder guard Russell Westbrook’s 21st triple-double of the season. “The ball just found whoever was open,” Durant said, “and we did a good job of mak- ing the shots.” Durant downplayed the signif- icance of facing his former club. “It’s good to see everybody,” he said, “but once the ball tips, you’re just playing. Simple as that.” But Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he wasn’t sur- prised the match-up brought out the best in Durant. “Every player in the NBA wants to play well against his old team,” Kerr said. “For most guys, you feel that little extra juice. I think it’s even more so with KD because of his history with that franchise... for sure he’s motivated and it’s a big deal.” The gloss of Westbrook’s 27 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists was somewhat dimmed by his 10 turnovers. “It was big,” Westbrook said of the turnovers. “They scored off of pretty much all of them. That’s what they do.” Tensions mounted late in the second quarter, when Golden State center Zaza Pachulia sent Westbrook to the floor with a flagrant foul. “I don’t play like that. I’m going to get (him) back,” Westbrook vowed. “Whenever that is, I don’t know when it’s going to be. But I don’t play that game.” PACERS 106, KINGS 100 Paul George scored 24 points, Jeff Teague had 22 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds, and the Pacers used a big second half to rally for the road win. Indiana trailed by as many as 22 points in the first half, and then outscored Sacramento 65-40 in the final two quarters to win for the seventh time in eight games. Reserve Al Jefferson had 20 points in 17 minutes for the Pacers, and Myles Turner had 16 points. DeMarcus Cousins had 25 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for Sacramento, which lost Rudy Gay to a torn OAKLAND: Golden State Warriors’ Kevin Durant (35) drives for a dunk attempt past Oklahoma City Thunder’s Andre Roberson, center left Achilles tendon in the third quarter. It left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game. — AP was Cousins’ fifth career triple-double. The Kings closed out a 1-6 homestand and have dropped eight of 10 overall. as 19 points in the first half, then held on Noah, but Mindaugas Kuzminskas and Willy the balanced Pistons to the win. Each of after a 10-0 run by Memphis made it a two- Hernangomez each scored 17 points. It was Detroit’s starters scored in double figures, 76ERS 94, RAPTORS 89 point game with 2 1/2 minutes left. That’s just the third win in 14 games for the Knicks. and the Pistons shot 49.5 percent from the Joel Embiid scored 26 points, Ersan when Wall took over, scoring on consecutive Isaiah Thomas led Boston with 39 points, his field. Tobias Harris had 19 points, Reggie Ilyasova added 18 and resurgent Philadelphia drives. Marc Gasol led Memphis with 28 13th time this season with 30 or more points. Bullock finished with 15 and Andre won for the seventh time in nine games. points, and Mike Conley had 20. Jae Crowder added 21 for the Celtics, who Drummond added 13 points and 17 Embiid, who was questionable because of lost for only the fourth time in 17 games. rebounds. Detroit raced out to a 42-18 first- the flu, surpassed 20 points in fewer than 30 ROCKETS 111, BUCKS 92 quarter lead and never trailed. Paul Millsap minutes in his 10th straight game. With James Harden had 38 points, eight assists HORNETS 107, TRAIL BLAZERS 85 had 21 points and eight rebounds for the Embiid leading the way, the Sixers are no and six rebounds, powering the Rockets to Kemba Walker scored 23 points, Roy Hawks, who had won nine of 10. Dennis longer the NBA’s laughingstock. They’re only the win. Harden drilled a straightaway 3- Hibbert provided a huge boost off the bench, Schroder added 13 points and six assists. 14-26 but have rejuvenated a city that has pointer with six minutes left to give Houston and Charlotte stopped a five-game slide. patiently waited for a winner through three a 13-point lead and shimmied his shoulders Nicolas Batum added 17 points for the PELICANS 118, MAGIC 98 miserable seasons. DeMar DeRozan scored 25 down the court in a celebratory dance as the Hornets, who limited the Trail Blazers to 35 Anthony Davis had 21 points and 15 for the Atlantic Division-leading Raptors, and Bucks called timeout. Eric Gordon made sev- percent shooting and snapped an eight- rebounds, and New Orleans cruised past Kyle Lowry had 24 points. en 3-pointers and scored 25 points for the game streak of allowing at least 100 points. short-handed Orlando. Tyreke Evans and Rockets, who had dropped three of four. Hibbert, who came in averaging 5.2 points Langston Galloway added 18 points apiece WIZARDS 104, GRIZZLIES 101 Giannis Antetokounmpo had 32 points, 11 per game, had a season-high 16 points on 7- for the Pelicans, who never trailed after the John Wall had 25 points and 13 assists, rebounds, six assists and three blocks for of-8 shooting, including an alley-oop pass first quarter and extended their lead to as and the Wizards earned their 13th consecu- Milwaukee, which was outscored 30-12 in the intended for Frank Kaminsky that inadver- many as 28 points. Aaron Gordon and Elfrid tive home win. James Ennis III missed a second quarter. tently went in. Damian Lillard scored 21 Payton each had 14 points for Orlando, potential tying 3-pointer at the buzzer for points and CJ McCollum had 18 for Portland, which finished 1-5 on a season-long six- Memphis. The Wizards are just 4-13 on the KNICKS 117, CELTICS 106 which has lost three straight and 16 of 22 game trip that featured five games in the last road but now 18-6 at home, where they’ve Derrick Rose matched his season high since Dec. 5. eight days. The Magic played their third compiled their longest winning streak since a with 30 points, helping the slumping Knicks straight game without leading scorer Evan 15-game run in the 1988-89 season. to the road win. New York played without PISTONS 118, HAWKS 95 Fournier, who is out with a bruised right Washington never trailed and led by as many injured starters Kristaps Porzingis and Joakim Reggie Jackson scored 26 points to lead heel. — Agencies .