NBA: Kevin Durant puts an end to Spurs winning streak
The Oklahoma City Thunder put an end to San Antonio’s 19-game winning run with a 106-94 triumph over the Spurs last night.
Kevin Durant scored 28 points as the battle between the top two in the Western Conference went the way of the Thunder, meaning they have swept the season series 4-0.
Durant has now managed 25 or more points for 39 successive games – only Michael Jordan (40) has managed a longer streak in the history of the NBA – and he gets the the chance to tie the mark against Houston on Friday.
Russell Westbrook weighed in with 27 points, including a reverse, windmill dunk that gave Oklahoma City a 12-point advantage with just over five minutes to play.
Patty Mills top-scored for the beaten Spurs, who had not tasted defeat since February 21, with 21 points off the bench.
Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks claimed a crucial victory in their bid to make the play-offs, seeing off the Los Angeles Clippers by a 113-107 scoreline at the Staples Center.
Dirk Nowitzki contributed 26 points and 11 rebounds as the Mavs moved into seventh spot in the Western Conference standings, half-a-game ahead of the idle Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies.
They also snapped a nine-game winning streak at home by the Clippers, Jose Calderon scoring 19 points and Vince Carter adding 16 off the bench, hitting four of Dallas’s 14 three-pointers.
Blake Griffin had 25 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for his first triple-double of the season, while front-court partner DeAndre Jordan finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds.