Kevin Durant led the league-leading Thunder to a seventh consecutive victory as Oklahoma City used an explosive fourth-quarter charge to rally for a 105-102 road victory over the Orlando Magic Thursday. Durant scored 18 of his game-high 38 points in the final quarter at the Amway Center to help the Thunder (29-7) overcome a 14-point deficit. “I was so down on myself, I was going downhill fast after the first quarter but my coaches and my team mates continued to talk to me and encourage me,” Durant told reporters. “They told me they believed in me. It just clicked for me. I always feel like I have to be aggressive in the fourth. I guess that is my time no matter how I am playing.” The forward sank two free throws with four minutes remaining to give the Thunder their first lead since the opening quarter (90-89) and then added 10 more points to protect the advantage. The most damaging basket by Durant was a desperation heave as the shot clock expired to give the Thunder a 101-96 lead with less than a minute to play. The Magic (23-14) used a 21-10 run to extend a 53-50 halftime lead into a 14-point cushion in the third quarter, led by Dwight Howard, who finished the game with 33 points and nine rebounds. Russell Westbrook added 29 points for the Thunder and had 10 assists, while James Harden scored 13 points off the bench. Suns 104, Timberwolves 95: In Phoenix, Grant Hill scored 15 of his season-best 20 points in the second half as Phoenix pulled away to beat weary Minnesota. Steve Nash had 13 points and matched his season high with 17 assists as Phoenix brought up its ninth straight victory over the Timberwolves. Kevin Love, who sat out the loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles Wednesday with illness, scored 23 on 8-of-25 shooting for Minnesota, which was playing for a third straight night. Clippers 108, Kings 100: Chris Paul scored 22 points and dished out nine assists to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to win over the Sacramento Kings. Paul had 15 points in the second half. Mo Williams delivered 18 points and five assists for the Clippers (21-12) off the bench and Bobby Simmons, who was just signed to a 10-day contract on Monday, scored 13 points off the bench in just his second appearance back in the NBA since 2010. DeMarcus Cousins had 23 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Kings (12-23). Heat 107, Trail Blazers 93: LeBron James and Dwyane Wade combined to score 71 points and the Miami Heat cruised past the Portland Trail Blazers without Chris Bosh. James had 38 points, 11 rebounds and six assists while Wade also filled the stat sheet with 33 points and 10 assists, leading the Heat to a season-best ninth straight win. Bosh missed his first game of the season due to a death in his family and will also be out for Friday's game at Utah, the team said. LaMarcus Aldridge had 20 points to lead the Blazers, who opened a three-game homestand, and Jamal Crawford scored 18.
