Kevin Durant scored 42 points, Russell Westbrook had 27 points and 10 assists, and the Thunder easily sent the short-handed Lakers to their sixth straight loss, 116-101 last night in Los Angeles.
Kevin Martin scored 15 points and hit three 3-pointers for the Thunder, who romped to a 27-point lead in the second half of their seventh win in nine games. The Thunder (28-8) matched the Clippers for the NBA’s best record with a virtuoso game from Durant, who had 38 points midway through the third quarter.
Kobe Bryant, who earlier confirmed on Facebook he and his wife, Vanessa, have called off their divorce, scored 28 for the Lakers, on their first six-game skid since March 2007.
Antawn Jamison added 19 points as the Lakers looked lost and overmatched in their third straight game without starting big men Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol.
Celtics 103, Rockets 91
In Boston, Paul Pierce scored 16 of his 23 points in the second half and Kevin Garnett added 17 points and four blocks as the Celtics nearly blew a 17-point lead before pulling away late.
The Celtics extended their season-high winning streak to five games, but only after surviving a 12-0 run that pulled the Rockets within two points midway through the fourth quarter.
Rajon Rondo had 12 points and eight assists, and Jared Sullinger had 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Celtics.
James Harden led the Rockets with 24 points, ending a run of 14 straight games scoring 25 or more.
Grizzlies 101, Spurs 98 (OT)
In Memphis, Tenn., Rudy Gay hit a pull-up jumper from 14 feet with 27.8 seconds left, and the Grizzlies held off the Spurs in overtime for their fourth straight victory.
Tony Parker forced overtime, beating the buzzer with a 27-footer tying it at 95. He also opened overtime with a 3-pointer that turned out to be the Spurs’ only bucket as San Antonio went 1 of 10 from the floor.