LOS ANGELES: Kevin Durant’s dunk with 16.5 seconds to play lifted Oklahoma City to a 112-111 victory over Detroit yesterday on the final night of the NBA regular season.
With the victory, the Thunder secured the second seed in the Western Conference play-offs.
Durant drove past Kyle Singler on the left side for the two-handed slam -- giving the Thunder their first lead since early in the third quarter.
Detroit’s Brandon Jennings couldn’t get an off-balance three-point attempt to fall in at the buzzer.
Durant scored 29 of his 42 points in the second half, including 21 in the fourth quarter, and sealed his fourth NBA scoring title in the last five years.
“A lot of good things took place, a lot of improvement and growth,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said of Oklahoma City’s season. “I thought our guys really competed all year. “With that said,” he added, “I’m not overly thrilled with how we played tonight.”
The Thunder will open the play-offs tomorrow against the Memphis Grizzlies, who defeated the Dallas Mavericks 106-105 in overtime in a battle for the seventh seed in the West.
Oklahoma City’s victory meant the Los Angeles Clippers were sure to be the West’s third seed, even before they finished the season with a 110-104 loss at the Portland Trail Blazers. REUTERS
