Thunder make huge comeback to beat Jazz in OT
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Kevin Durant scored 31 points -- all but two after halftime -- and Oklahoma City rallied from a 16-point deficit to beat Utah 104-98 in overtime Sunday night, the Thunder's second win over the Jazz in a three-day span.
Russell Westbrook added 25 points, 11 rebounds and five assists for the Thunder, who have won nine straight home games against Utah dating to the 2010-11 season. Oklahoma City extended its longest winning streak of the season to five games.
Rodney Hood had 23 points, Gordon Hayward scored 22 and Alec Burks added 21 for the Jazz, who fell five games behind first-place Oklahoma City in the Northwest Division.
Westbrook scored two baskets in the first 36 seconds of overtime to give the Thunder the lead, and Utah missed its first nine field-goal attempts in the extra period. The Jazz avoided an OT shutout on Hayward's basket with 8.6 seconds left.
The Jazz controlled the first half, building a lead that peaked at 51-35 on a 3-pointer by Hood in the final minute. Oklahoma City rallied in the final seconds, with Westbrook throwing an inbounds pass off Hood's back, grabbing the carom and hitting a 15-foot jumper at the buzzer to make it 51-38.
Westbrook and Durant combined to score Oklahoma City's first 20 points of the second half. Durant fed Steven Adams for a layup that gave the Thunder a 61-58 lead 5 minutes into the third quarter. The Jazz answered and led 76-71 entering the fourth.
Oklahoma City stayed close, though, and tied it at 94 on a 3 by Serge Ibaka with 49.8 seconds left. Hayward hit a 15-foot jumper off the ensuing inbounds play to put Utah back ahead with 45.9 seconds left.
Durant and Westbrook missed layups at the other end, but Westbrook rebounded both misses and the Thunder called timeout with 20.8 seconds left. Durant blew by Utah's Derrick Favors for a tying dunk with 14.6 seconds left.
Eschewing a timeout, Utah brought the ball down court, but Heyward's pass for Hood sailed out of bounds with a second left. Durant missed a shot from the corner at the buzzer, forcing overtime.
Dion Waiters added 13 points for Oklahoma City. Favors had 14 points and 10 rebounds for Utah.
TIP-INS
Jazz: Burks started at point guard in place of Raul Neto, who had started every previous game this season. Neto never got into the game. . After facing the Thunder three times in their first 22 games, the Jazz will have only one more matchup against Oklahoma City during their final 60 games, on March 24 in Oklahoma. ... Coach Quin Snyder said he isn't overly concerned about the Jazz's recent first-quarter struggles. "It's good that we don't have four quarters that are problem quarters," he said. Utah has been outscored in the first quarter 13 times this season by a cumulative 18 points, but has outscored opponents in the other three quarters.
Thunder: Official Ed Malloy called Westbrook for a technical foul in the second quarter after Westbrook protested a call. It was Westbrook's fourth technical this season. . Nick Collison was called for a flagrant foul in the third quarter against Hood. . Oklahoma City's 38 first-half points were a season low. ... A fan, Shane McKinzie of Stillwater, hit a half-court shot during a third-quarter promotion sponsored by MidFirst Bank to win $20,000. . The Thunder have held their opponent under 100 points for six straight games. . Oklahoma City won't play the same opponent in consecutive games the rest of the season. . The Thunder wore their alternate orange uniforms.
UP NEXT
Jazz: At Sacramento on Monday.
Thunder: Host Portland on Wednesday.
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