Kevin Durant's second half performance helped the Oklahoma City thunder overwhelm the Los Angeles Clippers 109-97.
Durant top scored with 32 points, seven assists and seven rebounds, while Russell Westbrook finished with 26 points and six assists.
"We've got 82 games and we want to play well every night," the Associated Press quoted Thunder coach Scott Brooks as saying. "We don't put more emphasis on any one game. We know the Clippers are one of the best teams, and with Chris Paul in or out, they've still got a great team."
Durant played for 41 minutes and made 12 out of 19 attempts from the field, which included five 3-pointers. He was more dominant in the last two quarters, scoring 24 points.
"My shots were falling and my teammates were getting offensive rebounds and kicking it out for (three-pointers)," Durant told reporters. "When we're driving and kicking, we're pretty good."
Serge Ibaka contributed with 17 points and nine rebounds and Kevin Martin had 13 points against the Clippers, who were without All-Star Chris Paul.
"They were missing Chris Paul, which is a huge piece, but they were still good in his absence," Durant added. "We wanted to come in here and get a good road win."
The Thunder and the Clippers scored 22 points apiece in a fiercely fought first quarter. In the second quarter, Oklahoma City scored 27 points and limited the Clippers to 23, to take a four-point lead in the game.
The second half was dominated by the Thunder, who scored 33 points in the third quarter and allowed the Clippers only 23 to extend their lead to 14 points.
The Clippers outscored the Thunder 29-27 in the fourth quarter but still lost the game by 12 points.
Oklahoma City out-rebounded the Clippers 37-35. They shot 15 3-pointers in the game, whereas the Clippers had only four.
When the Clippers entered the game, they had the second best record with 32-11 in the West, but after the Tuesday's defeat they fell to third place. They are now behind San Antonio.
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