NEW YORK — Bright lights, big city.
Must be Kevin Durant’s time to shine.
The Seattle rookie has made it a habit to play well on the biggest of stages. And in the Big Apple for the first time in his professional career, Durant put on a dazzling shooting performance in leading the Sonics to a 117-110 victory over the New York Knicks Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.
After a couple so-so efforts to start the road trip Durant sizzled, finishing with a game-high 30 points on 11-of-20 shooting, including a rim-rattling dunk over New York’s David Lee with less than a minute left to seal the win.
“I was just trying to go up and get the foul,” Durant said about the play. “But I saw the rim and I just wanted to finish.”
Said P.J. Carlesimo about Durant’s play: “I thought he played with an awful lot of poise. The one thing that has been consistent is he’s been very, very good in the fourth quarter. … When you’ve got a guy that big who can dribble it and shoot free throws and shoot 3’s, he’s a tough cover.”
Following two games of mostly uninspired basketball, the Sonics (6-17) played with energy and got several outstanding performances in this one, snapping a two-game losing streak and earning the team’s first win on a five-game road swing.
Seattle had six players finish in double figures along with Durant, including fellow rookie Jeff Green (17 points), Wally Szczerbiak (12), Luke Ridnour (12), Earl Watson (11) and Nick Collison (10).
Ridnour had his best performance since coming back from a partially torn left quad, dishing out three assist and going a perfect 5-of-5 from the field, including 2-of-2 from the 3-point line, in 17 minutes.
“Luke obviously looked the best he’s looked,” Carlesimo said. “He looked healthy. He looked bouncy.”
And although he finished with what seems like a pedestrian nine points and eight rebounds, Seattle veteran center Kurt Thomas again served as the glue guy holding these young Sonics together, taking a charge and finishing a conventional 3-point play late to help put the contest out of reach.
“It was a big win for us, especially because we felt we didn’t play well against Chicago,” Thomas said. “And we wanted to come back and show that passion and show that desire on the floor. And I think we showed that tonight in a tough arena.”
The Knicks got a strong performance from Seattle native Jamal Crawford. The Rainier Beach grad finished with 29 points and six assists. But Crawford’s effort wasn’t enough to quell the hot-shooting Sonics, who finished a blistering 58 percent (47-of-81) from the field.
New York’s Zach Randolph finished with 27 points and 16 rebounds, and the Knicks’ Nate Robinson, another Seattle native, totaled 12 points in 26 minutes, but took 17 shots to get his points.
The Knicks (6-15) lost their fourth straight game, and embattled coach Isiah Thomas had to endure more “Fire Isiah” call from the New York Knicks faithful as they left Madison Square Garden. Thomas also was booed during the opening introductions.
After an evenly played first half, Seattle managed to go ahead 83-79 at the end of the third.
Seattle held a tenuous 98-97 edge with 5:12 left, and the Knicks were poised to take the lead with a breakaway after Ridnour turned the ball over. But Jeff Green hustled down the floor and swatted Crawford’s dunk attempt to the sideline, where Durant picked it up before it bounced out-of-bounds.
“I never want to give up easy basket and I got that one,” Green said afterward, smiling.
The Seattle rookie forward finished inside on the other end to give Seattle a 100-97 lead. The two teams traded baskets for the next two minutes. Randolph drained a half-hook in the middle of the lane to cut Seattle’s lead to 105-103 with 2:43 remaining.
But on the other end Thomas plucked a Green miss off the board and finished. He also was fouled on the play and made the free throw, putting Seattle up 108-103.
The two teams traded points again, with Randolph making two free throws and Durant hitting another long jumper.
Up 110-105 the Knicks forced Durant to give up the ball. The rookie was doubled coming off a screen and made the right read, finding Thomas open on the wing. Thomas drained the 19-footer, pumping his fist and acknowledging the Madison Square Garden crowd that he played in front of for seven years a Knick.
The basket gave the Sonics a comfortable 112-105 lead with 1:23 left, and Seattle closed it out from there.
The Sonics travel to Minnesota to face the T-Wolves on Friday in a battle of the two cellar dwellers in the Northwest Division.
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