DENVER — Forward Kevin Durant scored 40 points and tied a career high with seven made 3-pointers and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the reeling Denver Nuggets 124-114 on Monday night.
Guard Russell Westbrook had 26 points and nine assists and rookie Mitch McGary had 17 points and 10 rebounds for Oklahoma City, which has won four of five.
The Thunder is trending toward the playoffs while the Nuggets have become the sure win on every opponent’s schedule. Denver has lost six in a row and 13 of 14 to become lottery contenders for the last half of the season.
Home court used to be a safe haven for the Nuggets but they have lost six straight at Pepsi Center.
Forward Kenneth Faried had 22 points and 10 rebounds and guard Ty Lawson had 22 points and nine assists for Denver (19-33).
Oklahoma City (27-25) took advantage of the struggling Nuggets by taking a 38-18 lead after the first quarter. Denver chipped away and got within 57-49 with an 8-0 run with 2:35 left in the second quarter.
That’s when Durant took over. Following a timeout, he hit three 3-pointers to push the lead to 14. After Westbrook’s fast-break dunk, Durant was fouled on a 3-pointer and hit two free throws. He hit a fourth 3-pointer with 35 seconds left to give the Thunder a 73-57 lead at halftime.
The Nuggets scored the first nine points of the third quarter but the Thunder responded with a 13-3 run, capped by Durant’s fifth 3-pointer of the night that pushed the lead to 86-71. He and guard Andre Roberson hit two more 3s to make it 94-75 midway through the third.
Durant’s seventh 3-pointer made it 106-85 with 2:03 left in the third.
Denver went on an 11-0 run to cut the lead to 10 early in the fourth and scored 10 straight midway through to get within 115-106. Durant hit a floater in the lane and Westbrook a bank shot to make it 122-109 with 3:16 left.
NOTES: Thunder C Steven Adams had surgery on his broken right hand, and he will miss three weeks. Adams was injured in the second quarter of Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Clippers. … Denver G Jameer Nelson missed his third consecutive game with a left Achilles strain, and C JaVale McGee was dressed but available only if needed because of illness and conditioning. … Oklahoma City G Anthony Morrow was back after missing Sunday’s game due to right shoulder soreness. … Nuggets C Jusuf Nurkic was selected to the World Team for the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday as part of All-Star weekend. Nurkic replaces Adams.