OKLAHOMA CITY — Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant combined for 51 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 112-88 win over the Phoenix Suns Sunday at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.
The Thunder have won five straight games and moved to 11-13 on the season. Over that same time span, the Suns (12-13) have lost five straight and their lead over the Thunder in the Western Conference standings has shrunk to half a game.
Phoenix came into the night averaging 105 points a game. But the combination of the Thunder’s stifling defense and rebound advantage (63-40) and the Sun’s paltry shooting (34 percent), prevented them from getting anywhere near their average.
Westbrook led all scorers with 28 points to go along with eight rebounds and eight assists in only 26 minutes of work. Durant added 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting. Forward Serge Ibaka added 12 points.
Guard Gerald Green paced the Suns with 15 points on 5-for-13 shooting. Guard Eric Bledsoe was held to 12 points and four assists.
Before the game started, Suns coach Jeff Hornacek asked if anyone had any ideas on how to keep Westbrook out of the paint. Whatever plan he came up with didn’t seem to work early on.
Westbrook scored 14 first-quarter points and was 8-for-8 from the free-throw line as the Thunder led 70-49 at halftime. It’s the first time they’ve scored 70 points in a first half in back-to-back games since moving to Oklahoma City.
No matter what the Suns tried, they could not slow down the Thunder. Oklahoma City beat them at their own game of high-octane basketball. Mostly because they had Westbrook and Durant and Phoenix didn’t.
By the time the fourth quarter started, the Thunder had emptied its bench.
NOTES: Suns G Goran Dragic was unable to play Sunday against Oklahoma City due to back spasms. G Gerald Green started in his place … Kings F Rudy Gay called Thunder C Kendrick Perkins a clown for comments he made during the team’s Nov. 9 encounter. Perkins responded Sunday: “I’d rather be a clown than a virus.” The Thunder and Kings play Tuesday in Sacramento. … Phoenix coach Jeff Hornacek said his team struggles to get wins when they shoot below 50 percent from field. “We have a tendency to go one-on-one a little bit too much sometimes,” Hornacek said. “We put a lot on our point guards to make a play happen. Some nights we shoot the ball really well. Other nights we don’t make those extra passes.” … Thunder F Kevin Durant has been on a 30-minute limit since he returned to the lineup after suffering a Jones fracture in his foot. Coach Scott Brook said Durant’s minutes have been increased, but Brooks wouldn’t say to what.