The Sacramento Kings’ 10-game winning streak came to a resounding end as they were thumped by the Oklahoma City Thunder, 137-108. The 137 points allowed were the second-most of the season, but the only one with more was a double-overtime contest.
The Thunder attempted an opponent-season-high 45 free throws and made 35. They shot 54.1% from the field, second-best by an opponent, and made 10 three-pointers. OKC outrebounded Sacramento 56-39. The Thunder scored at least 33 points in every quarter.
Kevin Durant led the way with 32 points (all of which came in the first three quarters), and both Sam Perkins (20 points, 10 rebounds) and Jack Sikma (13 points, 10 rebounds) had double-doubles. Gary Payton (17 points, nine assists) just missed one.
The Kings (14-7) shot 46.5% from the field. DeMarcus Cousins scored 22 points and Peja Stojakovic had 21.
The Kings scored the first four points of the game and that would turn out to be their largest lead of the game, though they didn’t lead much in the contest. After the Thunder went ahead 30-29, they never trailed again. A high-scoring first quarter ended 33-31 in OKC’s favor. Durant had almost half the points, scoring 16.
The Kings tied the game at 37-37 after baskets by Oscar Robertson and Mitch Richmond, but Russell Westbrook scored the next four points and the Thunder led for the remainder of the contest. OKC led 66-57 at halftime.
The Thunder took their first double-digit lead at 74-64 with eight minutes to go in the third quarter after Westbrook scored. The Kings got no closer than six the rest of the way, which came on a Stojakovic three-pointer that made it 77-71. A 12-2 OKC run made it 96-78, and the Thunder went up by 21 after a Westbrook basket that made it 103-82 at the end of the third quarter.
The lead only grew in the fourth quarter. Serge Ibaka put the Thunder up by 24 at 111-87. An 11-0 run made it a 32-point game at 122-90. Their biggest lead was 34 points, first at 134-100 after a Dale Ellis three-pointer.
Next up: the Orlando Magic.
ROGER SPORTS & GAMES 