MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Kevin Durant scored 30 points, and Jeff Green added 22 to help the Oklahoma City Thunder snap a 14-game losing streak with a 111-103 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night.
The victory was Oklahoma City’s first on the road and second of the season following an 88-85 win over Minnesota on Nov. 2. Memphis has lost 10 of its last 11.
Russell Westbrook had 12 points for the Thunder, and Damian Wilkins and Desmond Mason finished with 11 each. O.J. Mayo led Memphis with 30 points, while Rudy Gay and Marc Gasol scored 16 each.
The Thunder, down by 14 in the first half, got within striking distance by outscoring Memphis 33-26 in the third period.
Jeff Green’s hit consecutive 3-pointers, the second coming with 4:28 left to overtake Memphis at 97-96. The two teams exchanged the lead until Oklahoma City closed the game with a 12-3 run.
The Thunder’s 14-game losing streak matched the franchise record.
Memphis got off to a fast start, shooting 63 percent in the first quarter. Mayo had 11 of his 13 first-half points in the opening period.
The shooting would only get better for Memphis, at one point reaching 71 percent, on 15-of-21, as the Grizzlies built the lead to 42-28, their largest margin of the game before carrying a 54-43 advantage into the dressing room. Gay had 10 points.
The lead could have been bigger if Memphis hadn’t committed 10 turnovers before the break. Meanwhile, the Thunder was having trouble keeping pace, shooting 43 percent. Durant got a bit active midway through the second quarter, helping lead Oklahoma City with 11 points in the half.
Oklahoma City came out in the second half with better ball movement, and Memphis still was having trouble avoiding mistakes, ending up with 18 turnovers on the night. The Thunder took advantage by getting the ball low for easy baskets and dunks.
The Thunder got pulled to 73-72 with a pair of free throws from Earl Watson. Memphis still carried an 80-76 lead into the final period after a 22-foot jumper by Joe Smith at the horn to end the third.
Memphis would finish the game shooting 58 percent, while the Thunder connected on 52 percent of their shots.
Notes: The Thunder went with a couple of lineup changes, starting
rookie Russell Westbrook at point for veteran Earl Watson and Chris Wilcox at center and letting Nick Collison come off the bench. It was the first start of the season for both. … The Thunder franchise’s previous record for consecutive losses was last season in Seattle. … Mayo leads all rookies in scoring with a 21.4 average. … Veteran F Antoine Walker was in uniform for Memphis for the first game of the season. He did not play. … Officials reviewed Smith’s last-second jumper to end the third quarter before confirming that it was good.
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