Oklahoma City star scores 35 in 110-98 win
Throughout the Washington Wizards’ frustrating first third of the season, head coach Flip Saunders has cycled through endless player combinations, including 11 different starting lineups in 30 games.
After spotting the Oklahoma City Thunder an 11-point lead Tuesday night, midway through the second quarter Saunders appeared to stumble upon a five-man set that worked.
But after the group of Gilbert Arenas, Earl Boykins, Caron Butler, Andray Blatche and Brendan Haywood bolted back in front with a 17-4 run, they weren’t spotted on the floor together once in the second half, particularly as the Thunder closed with a 21-8 run to clinch their 110-98 defeat of the Wizards in front of 17,152 at Verizon Center.
Instead, the night belonged to Suitland native Kevin Durant, who had 35 points and 11 rebounds in his sole hometown appearance this season. His local running mate Jeff Green added 18 as the Thunder (17-14) extended their season-best winning streak to four.
Durant finished the first quarter with 14 points, including 10 during a 20-3 run that pushed the Oklahoma City ahead by double digits. He then closed the second period with a monster dunk with 0.3 seconds remaining to take a game-high 23 into halftime.
Antawn Jamison (28 points) countered with 14 points in the first 17 minutes, but he was on the bench as the Wizards reclaimed the lead, 46-44, when Arenas (24 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds) fed Blatche (6 points, 9 rebounds) for a nifty reverse layup with 3 minutes, 51 seconds left in the half.
But after leading by as many as eight points in the second quarter, the Wizards (10-20) went cold in the third as Saunders opted for heavy burn on his starters. Haywood (16 points, 8 rebounds) was the only player to get any rest — a mere 52 seconds — while the other four each played all 12 minutes and shot 37.5 percent (9 for 24), allowing the Thunder to reset the game at 76-76 to begin the fourth.
