Thunder pull away in second half in rout of Nuggets
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Kevin Durant scored 25 points to help the Thunder beat the Denver Nuggets 117-93 on Sunday night.
Durant made 8 of 11 field goals and all six of his free throws to help new coach Billy Donovan remain unbeaten in the NBA.
Serge Ibaka had 18 points, seven rebounds and five blocks and Russell Westbrook had 15 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Thunder, who have won their first three games for the first time since the 2011-12 season.
The Thunder shot 52 percent from the field, and all five Oklahoma City starters rested for the entire fourth quarter.
Danilo Gallinari and Will Barton each scored 15 points and Jameer Nelson added 13 points and seven assists for the Nuggets, who shot just 38 percent.
Oklahoma City led 58-50 at halftime before taking control in the third quarter.
Westbrook scored a breakaway layup to give the Thunder a 68-52 lead. His next bucket was a powerful right-handed putback jam off a miss by Steven Adams as the shot clock wound down. Durant followed with a 3-point play that put Oklahoma City up by 20.
The Thunder took a 95-70 lead into the fourth quarter.
TIP-INS
Nuggets: F Wilson Chandler (right hip strain) and C Jusuf Nurkic (left patellar tendon repair) both sat out. ... G Mike Miller played for Thunder coach Billy Donovan at the University of Florida. ... Starting guard Gary Harris went scoreless the first three quarters before scoring seven points in the fourth.
Thunder: Oklahoma City wore its orange alternate uniforms for the first time. ... Andre Roberson scored 10 points. It was just the fifth double-figure scoring game of the third-year pro's career. ... Rookie G Cameron Payne made his debut in the fourth quarter, but he did not score.
UP NEXT: Nuggets play at the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. Thunder visit Houston on Monday.
