Nets stun Thunder, snap streak

NEW YORK – Brook Lopez scored a season-high 31 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and the Brooklyn Nets snapped the Oklahoma City Thunder's seven-game winning streak with a 116-106 victory Sunday night (Monday in Manila).

 

Kevin Durant had 32 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, but Oklahoma City never led in the game that was delayed four hours by the blizzard that dumped more than 2 feet of snow on New York on Saturday.

 

Russell Westbrook finished with 27 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists as the Thunder lost for just the fifth time in 27 games.

 

Taking advantage of a Thunder team missing starting center Steven Adams, Lopez shot 11 for 19 from the field in bouncing back from one of his worst performances of the season. He had been limited to just eight points Friday in a loss to Utah.

 

Lopez, who the Nets nearly dealt to the Thunder last season before Oklahoma City acquired Enes Kanter, averaged 28.5 points in the two meetings this season.

 

Bojan Bogdanovic added 18 points off the bench and Thaddeus Young had 14 points and 14 rebounds for the Nets, who snapped their five-game losing streak.

 

The Nets shot 57 percent in the first quarter, matched their best half of the season in taking a 60-52 lead at the break, and extended it to 13 in the third quarter.

 

The Thunder got within five points midway through the third quarter, but Young and Lopez combined for six straight points as the Nets quickly restored their double-digit lead.

 

TIP-INS

Thunder: The Thunder lost for the first time in 10 games this season when both Durant and Westbrook have double-doubles. Starting guard Anthony Roberson missed the second half because of a sprained right knee. He was hurt in the second quarter when Westbrook missed a reverse layup and fell into Roberson's knee.

 

Nets: Joe Johnson became the 31st player in NBA history to reach 40,000 minutes. He is eighth among active players, behind Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, Paul Pierce, Vince Carter and Andre Miller. Johnson finished with 13 points.

 

NEW YORK STATE OF MIND

The Thunder arrived at their hotel about 4 a.m. Saturday (Sunday), not long after the storm had started, and with all the snow and travel restrictions, Durant said he didn't leave it again until getting on the team bus about 4 p.m. Sunday (Monday). ''Doesn't feel like we're in New York City,'' he said. He still has time to enjoy it. The Thunder will be in the city a couple more days before visiting the Knicks on Tuesday (this coming Wednesday).

 

ABOUT ADAMS

Adams had an MRI that revealed a sprained right elbow. Coach Billy Donovan said he believed the injury happened when Adams dunked in pregame warmups Friday and that Adams was in a lot of pain. He will probably miss the final two games of the road trip and there is no timetable for his return, though Donovan said they don't believe surgery will be necessary.

 

UP NEXT

Thunder visit New York while the Nets host Miami this coming Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).