With the help of three-time all-star Kevin Durant's final minute spark the Oklahoma City Thunder got the better of the Chicago Bulls 97-91 Thursday. Durant, expectedly, was the leading scorer for the Thunder with 24 points.
The Thunder were trailing by six points when Durant added 10 quick points in the later stages of the game.
"It was one of those games you have to grind out," The Associated Press quoted Durant as saying. "We've been through so many. We know what it takes."
Durant, who had 24 points in the game, caught fire in the fourth quarter which helped the Thunder outscore the Bulls 31-19 in the final period to take the game.
"That's winning time, fourth quarter," Durant added. "In the fourth quarter we really turned it up a lot. But if you want to be a really good team you've got to do that from the beginning of the game."
Serge Ibaka finished with 21 points, but majority of his points came in the first half. Russell Westbrook added 16 points and 12 assists.
"I told (Durant) be aggressive, just be aggressive, especially in the fourth quarter," Westbrook said. "It was his time. Everybody knows that's his time. He took his time and got the shots he needed."
Thunder coach Scott Brooks believes Durant took charge at the right time. "I like Kevin to be a playmaker," Brooks said. "That is what separates great players from good ones. The 19 shots like tonight are where I like him to be."
Luol Deng, Richard Hamilton and Joakim Noah were the standout performers for Chicago, netting 27 points, 20 points and nine points respectively. Hamilton also had 13 rebounds to his credit, whereas Noah added six assists.
"Overall, I thought we played hard but we turned the ball over a lot," Noah said. "(Durant) hit some really tough shots."
Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau emphasized on the need to strengthen their defense. "We have to sustain our defense and take care of the ball," he said. "We did not sustain our effort and we need to have low turnovers."
Durant said even with the absence of their best player Derrick Rose, the Bulls were a difficult team to play against.
"Derrick Rose is an unbelievable player, don't get me wrong. He is Chicago," Durant said. "But those guys are great complements to him. Once one of your best players is out, guys got to step up and that's what they've been doing ever since he's been out."
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