Thompson lifts Kings to first three-game winning streak in over a year with win over Thunder

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Thompson powers Kings past Thunder

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jason Thompson had 21 points and 14 rebounds to help Sacramento beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 101-98 on Tuesday night, giving the Kings their first three-game winning streak in over a year.

Sacramento (4-4) reached the .500 mark for the first time since Dec. 4, 2006.

Tyreke Evans had 20 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Kings, who made 31 of 36 free throws. Andres Nocioni scored 16 points, while both Beno Udrih and Spencer Hawes had 12. Kevin Durant scored a season-high 37 points, including making all 18 free throws, for the Thunder. Oklahoma City lost for the fourth time in five games since opening the season with consecutive wins.

Durant had a chance to send the game to OT, but missed a 3-pointer with a second left.

His 3-pointer with 4.4 seconds left pulled the Thunder to within 99-98. Fouled immediately after the basket, Evans made two free throws to give the Kings a three-point lead.

After the Thunder cut the lead to 95-93 on Durant’s two free throws, Evans made a long jumper and rookie Omri Casspis scored on a breakaway dunk following a Thunder turnover, giving the Kings a 99-93 lead with 1:17 remaining.

The game evolved into a free-throw shooting contest for much of the second half between two of the NBA’s youngest teams. The Thunder shot just 39 percent, but connected on 30 of 35 free throws.

Durant, who picked up two early fouls, struggled to find his shot the entire first half. Pestered frequently by the aggressive defense of Nocioni, the Thunder’s leading scorer missed 8-of-11 shots in the opening half.

But Durant did get going in the third quarter, penetrating frequently and drawing fouls. He made all nine free throws and scored 15 points, including the final 10 for the Thunder.

The Kings made all 14 free throws in a foul-plagued third quarter. Thompson scored eight points for Sacramento, which took an 83-77 lead into the fourth.

Both Evans and Thompson scored 10 first-half points for the Kings, who led 54-51. Green had 12 points for the Thunder and Durant had 10.

Notes: Harden made a 47-footer at the buzzer to end the first half. Kings leading scorer Kevin Martin had surgery Monday on his broken left wrist and is expected to miss at least two months. Brooks, who grew up in Northern California, was an assistant coach with the Kings in the 2005-06 season. Knocked to the floor after hitting a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter, Nocioni made the subsequent free throw for a rare 4-point play.