OKC Thunder stops losing streak, outscores Timberwolves at home
Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder directs the offense in the second half against the Miami Heat in Game 4. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
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Posted: 02/22/2013
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Russell Westbrook scored 37 points, Kevin Durant added 27 and the Oklahoma City Thunder snapped a three-game losing streak by beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 127-111 on Friday night.
The Thunder avoided losing four in a row for the first time since April 2009, near the end of their first season in Oklahoma City, but made little progress in getting their defense back in order.
They had allowed 113.7 points per game during the losing streak and were just a basket better against Minnesota, instead relying on an offense that regained the NBA lead in scoring average.
Alexey Shved led Minnesota with 17 points, and Andrei Kirilenko and Dante Cunningham had 15 points apiece. The Timberwolves shot 53 percent in the first half but couldn't keep up that pace and wound up hitting on 43 percent after halftime.
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