Durant scores 27 points to lead Thunder to 108-102 win over Kings

Thunder upend Kings 108-102

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Kevin Durant had 27 points and eight rebounds and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Sacramento Kings 108-102 on Sunday night.

The road victory was the seventh in nine games for the Thunder, who defeated the Kings in three of four meetings this season.

Tyreke Evans had 24 points and seven assists for the Kings and Carl Landry had 20 points and eight rebounds. Francisco Garcia scored 14 points and Jason Thompson added 11.

The Kings have lost two straight and three of four in falling to 15-15 this season at home.

Russell Westbrook scored 13 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter for the Thunder, who have won two straight and five of six. James Harden scored all 14 of his points in the first half, while Jeff Green added 12 points.

Garcia made a 3-pointer to pull the Kings within 106-102 with 39 seconds left.

After Beno Udrih’s 3-pointer cut the lead to 98-96, Durant scored on a short baseline jumper and Nick Collison dunked off a fastbreak to put the Thunder ahead 102-96 with 2:17 remaining.

The Thunder (38-24) are 14-3 since a loss at Cleveland on Jan. 23. Last season, Oklahoma City began the season 1-12 and finished with 23 wins.

Vowing to rebound better after a poor effort in Tuesday’s loss at Oklahoma City, the Kings fared even worse. The Thunder outrebounded them 45-33.

With Durant coming out aggressive in the third quarter, the Thunder built their lead to 11 points. But with Landry scoring inside and Evans hitting from the perimeter, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer, the Kings closed the gap to 81-79 heading into the fourth.

Durant scored 16 points and Harden came off the bench for 14 to help the Thunder lead 57-52 at the half. Landry scored 11 points for the Kings.

Notes: Green drew a technical foul in the second quarter after slamming the ball to the floor after picking up his third foul. It was one of three first-half technicals called against Oklahoma City. … The Kings gave Omri Casspi the night off, deactivating the rookie, who was shooting 38 percent in his past seven games. … Thompson came off the bench after missing the previous five games with a lower-back injury suffered in a Feb. 23 fall against Detroit.