{"id":333839,"date":"2011-03-24T02:46:21","date_gmt":"2011-03-24T02:46:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/2011\/03\/24\/thunder-get-past-injury-depleted-jazz-ap\/"},"modified":"2011-03-24T02:46:21","modified_gmt":"2011-03-24T02:46:21","slug":"thunder-get-past-injury-depleted-jazz-ap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/03\/24\/thunder-get-past-injury-depleted-jazz-ap\/","title":{"rendered":"Thunder get past injury-depleted Jazz (AP)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)\u2014Russell Westbrook<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> scored 31 points, Kevin Durant<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> added
\n29 and the Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a> pulled away from the depleted Utah Jazz<\/a> in the
\nsecond half for a 106-94 victory Wednesday night.<\/p>\n

The Jazz played without starting point guard Devin Harris<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> because of a
\nstrained right hamstring, and Andrei Kirilenko<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> sat out the second half after
\nbruising a nerve in his left knee. That proved to be too much to overcome.<\/p>\n

Utah eliminated an early 10-point deficit and was up by one early in the
\nthird quarter, but Durant and Westbrook eventually took over.<\/p>\n

Al Jefferson<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> had 32 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Jazz, who fell to
\n.500 for the first time since Nov. 6 and dropped four games behind Memphis for
\nthe final playoff spot in the Western Conference with 10 games left.<\/p>\n

Westbrook had a three-point play and a 3-pointer during a 17-6 run that put
\nthe Thunder ahead to stay. Nazr Mohammed\u2019s<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> jumper from the right side to open
\nthe fourth quarter finished the decisive run and put Oklahoma City up 80-69.<\/p>\n

Durant added back-to-back 3-pointers in a string of eight straight Thunder
\npoints that pushed the edge to 98-80 with 5:32 to play before the Jazz cut that
\nlead in half by rallying mostly from the foul line.<\/p>\n

Serge Ibaka<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> contributed 15 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks for the
\nThunder. He has 45 blocks in 12 games this month.<\/p>\n

Paul Millsap<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> had 18 points and Earl Watson<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> scored 10 after starting in place
\nof Harris, who was a game-time decision after getting hurt early in Utah\u2019s loss
\nat Memphis on Monday.<\/p>\n

Kirilenko was the latest one added to the injury mix, suffering a bruised
\nperoneal nerve and missing the second half. X-rays were negative.<\/p>\n

The Jazz were as much as 14 games over .500 in mid-January at 27-13\u2014the
\nsame record as the Thunder at that point. But since then, the franchise has seen
\nlongtime coach Jerry Sloan retire and All-Star point guard Deron Williams<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> get
\ntraded away, with the situation only complicated by a series of injuries.<\/p>\n

Utah is 9-23 over that span, while Oklahoma City is 18-11 and in position
\nfor home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.<\/p>\n

Durant and Westbrook each scored 12 first-quarter points, and Oklahoma City
\nused a hefty advantage at the foul line to open a 37-27 lead after James
\nHarden\u2019s<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> 3-pointer from the right wing early in the second quarter.<\/p>\n

C.J. Miles<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer and a jumper as Utah scored 15 of
\nthe next 20 points to tie it at 42 when Jefferson spun past Kendrick Perkins<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> at
\nthe left block for a basket with 3:54 to go before halftime.<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City scored the next eight points as the Jazz went seven straight
\npossessions without scoring, including one when they lost a fast-break
\nopportunity because the shot clock didn\u2019t reset after a Thunder turnover.<\/p>\n

Jefferson snapped the streak with a basket from the left wing, and Perkins
\nwas called for a technical foul for slapping away Millsap\u2019s hand under the
\nbasket. Miles hit the ensuing free throw to make it 50-45 at halftime.<\/p>\n

The Jazz scored the first six points of the second half to take their first
\nlead on Millsap\u2019s basket inside, and they were up 54-53 after Millsap\u2019s
\ntwo-handed dunk with 7:59 left in the third quarter. That would be the last lead
\nfor Utah.<\/p>\n

Notes: The Thunder, who lost to Toronto on Sunday night, have lost
\nback-to-back home games only once all season. \u2026 Utah, which lost its first two
\ngames of the season, improved to 3-3 with a win against the Los Angeles Clippers<\/a>
\non Nov. 6 and had been above .500 since then.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Original post:
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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)\u2014 Russell Westbrook (notes) scored 31 points, Kevin Durant (notes) added 29 and the Oklahoma City Thunder pulled away from the depleted Utah Jazz in the second half for a 106-94 victory Wednesday night. The Jazz played without starting point guard Devin Harris (notes) because of a strained right hamstring, and Andrei Kirilenko (notes) sat out the second half after bruising a nerve in his left knee. 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