OKLAHOMA CITY — Forward Kevin Durant scored 32 points on 12-of-19 shooting Sunday, leading Oklahoma City to a 124-103 victory over the Phoenix Suns that snapped the Thunder’s three-game losing streak.
Durant added 11 rebounds, four assists and three steals, and he hit six of seven free throws.
Thunder guard Russell Westbrook finished with 21 points and 13 assists. Center Enes Kanter and guard Dion Waiters came off the bench to score 21 and 19 points, respectively, for Oklahoma City (4-3).
Guard Eric Bledsoe posted 28 points and 11 assists for the Suns (3-4). Forward Markieff Morris added 19 points, and reserve forward T.J. Warren scored 17 points.
Oklahoma City had problems closing out the previous three games. In two of the contests, the Thunder had large leads and allowed their opponents to make comebacks to take the win.
The Thunder didn’t let that happen against the Suns.
After watching a 13-point lead slip to nine, Oklahoma City went on a 14-3 run. The surge was keyed by a Westbrook layup and 3-pointers from Waiters and Durant.
Kanter added a couple of buckets, and soon the Thunder led by 24 points with 4:30 left in the game.
The Suns began to empty their bench at that point.
Led by Westbrook, the Thunder built a 15-point lead in the first quarter. It was punctuated when he came up with a steal and turned it into a rim-shaking dunk on the other end.
However, the Suns’ second unit rallied to tie the game at 29-29 heading into the second quarter.
Bledsoe was the main contributor for the Suns early on as he took advantage of any and all defenders trying to guard him. He finished the first half with 20 points.
Oklahoma City, however, clawed its way back on top behind Waiters. He came off the bench to and sparked a stagnant offense and helped give the Thunder a 60-54 halftime advantage.
Durant and Westbrook picked up the scoring pace in the third quarter. Instead of settling for jumpers, both attacked the rim more by taking their defenders off the dribble.
With Bledsoe cooled off, the Suns turned to Morris. He found room in the paint and took over Phoenix’s offensive load.
Still, it wasn’t enough to counter the many weapons Oklahoma City was able to employ. When the starters did go to the bench, the Thunder reserves held the lead, with Kanter and forward Mitch McGary making plays on both ends.
Even with normal bench staples forwards Nick Collison and Anthony Morrow not getting a single minute of action, the Thunder’s bench outscored the Suns’ reserves 47-38.
NOTES: Oklahoma City C Enes Kanter said he would be a better defensive force for the team this year. However, in the early going the numbers are not bearing that out. When Kanter is on the floor with F Serge Ibaka, the Thunder have minus-12.8 points per 100 possession. When C Steven Adams teams with Ibaka, the team is a plus-13 points. … Phoenix Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said the team is figuring out the best way to make use of C Tyson Chandler. … After three games in which the Thunder faltered in late-game situations, Thunder coach Billy Donovan said he and G Russell Westbrook have had talks about how to handle those situations. … With the Suns having two starting point guards, Brandon Knight and Eric Bledsoe, averaging a combined 39 points, they are still looking to open up the offense. “We have to spread the wealth a little just to make defenses be more honest,” Hornacek said.