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casper
12-29-2009, 12:51 PM
DURANT SCORES 40 AS THUNDER TAKE CARE OF LOWLY NETS

THE SPORTS NETWORK

East Rutherford, NJ (Sports Network) - Kevin Durant poured in 40 points to lead Oklahoma City in a 105-89 rout of the hapless New Jersey Nets.

Durant has now scored 30 or more points in four straight contests, helping to guide the Thunder to their first three-game winning streak of the season.

Oklahoma City has won four of the last six games overall and got 19 points from Nenad Krstic. Russell Westbrook recorded 16 points and 10 assists and Nick Collison added 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Yi Jianlian tied a career high with 29 points on 11-of-20 shooting for New Jersey, which saw its latest losing streak reach 10 games.

The NBA's worst team fell to 2-29 on the season and 0-4 on a seven-game homestand. The Nets have only one win in 13 tries at home this season

Courtney Lee scored 17 points and Trenton Hassell 14. Devin Harris was just 3- of-8 from the field for 11 points but did record a game-high 11 assists.

The Thunder got out to a 32-27 lead at the close of the first quarter but New Jersey used an 11-2 spurt early in the second to go in front 38-36 on a three- point play by Hassell.

The lead continued to trade hands approaching halftime with back-to-back buckets by Durant allowing Oklahoma City a 61-55 advantage at the break.

Durant nailed a jump shot four minutes into the second half to keep the Thunder in front by seven but the Nets came back with nine consecutive points and grabbed a 72-70 lead on Lee's three-ball.

However, New Jersey got only a pair of buckets from Yi in the last 5 1/2 minutes of the frame and Oklahoma City carried an 84-76 edge into the final 12 minutes.

After Lee got to the hoop for two to open the fourth, the Thunder ripped off 10 consecutive points to take a healthy 94-78 lead midway through the final stanza.

The Nets would never seriously challenge the lead from there.

Game Notes: Oklahoma City improved to 8-7 on the road and will visit Washington on Tuesday to close out a brief two-game road trip...The Nets will also play host to the Knicks, Cavaliers and Bucks on their homestand...New Jersey's Brook Lopez had 10 points...The Nets hit only 1-of-9 attempts from three-point range...The Thunder won despite missing each of its 12 shots from long distance.