Sunday, December 25, 2011

Star Center - Durant Helps Thunder Beat Magic In Opener - Sports - Nba

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Oklahoma City Thunder come into the new time of year by using lofty goals. They seen just like a contender for their opener.

Kevin Durant scored thirty points that will that Thunder win their particular opener with a 97-89 triumph Sunday night above Orlando, a new company that was working along with deal demands since training camp opened.

While Durant shined, Howard struggled, presented to simply just 11 items on 4-of-11 shooting.

We know that are outdoor expectations, Thunder guru Scott Brooks said. But at this time there aren big t absolutes and also guarantees. Our people simply work. I understand it obtains dreary with times, but most people similar to that. We re possibly not going to change. We lso are just about all within the similar motorboat with that. You can easily never turn into complacent. It must be about the team.

Durant led the little league within scoring way back when two seasons, such as averaging 27.7 last season. On Sunday, this individual ended up being 11-of-19 on the discipline as well as extra several rebounds and also six assists.

James Harden Kendrick Perkins and Nazr Mohammed limited Howard.

The Thunder missing to help Dallas last year from the Western Conference finals nevertheless tend to be anticipated to at least one of the prime teams that season. They led throughout, which include by 18 at the stop belonging to the third 1 / 4 in addition to genuinely were in no way in danger with losing.

It s some thing you can t control, Durant claimed of expectations. We have to hold getting greater each day and observe exactly what happens.

The Magic appeared as if some sort of group that has been nonetheless interacting with all the distraction involving Howard and also their trade demands, which in turn completely outclassed head lines around Orlando because lockout ended. The All-Star facility offers softened his or her stance lately.

I didn t much like the speed of our own offense, Magic guru Stan Van Gundy said. I concept most people had been moving slowly. I thought this baseball didn t move.

NBA commissioner David Stern acessed around around the Howard scenario Sunday, stating prior to that game, That azines the elegance belonging to the cleaning soap opera. How it plays out, most people ll hold out and see.

Howard, your Magic s super star center averaged a lot more than 22 factors for each sport last year, shooting 59 percent for the season.

He have have 15 rebounds.

A 13-2 work in the following quarter, after Durant as well as looked at back in, made it simpler for the Thunder escape with a 17-point lead. They led 55-41 along at the break. Durant had 14 points inside first half.

Jameer Nelson additional 18 for that Magic, exactly who taken merely 37 p'cent through the arena along with possessed 18 turnovers.

It appeared to be a good activity pertaining to us, Brooks said. Everybody chipped in. We experienced a great deal of good plays tonight.

Notes: Durant had missed personal trainer totally free throws. He is often a occupation 88 percent zero cost throw shooter The Thunder outscored that Magic inside the paint, 32-30 nevertheless were being outrebounded 45-43.

Oklahoma City at Minnesota

Mon Dec 26, 2011, 8:00 pm EST

Houston

Mon Dec 26, 2011, 7:00 pm EST

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