Thunder surprise Spurs

D.J. Augustin scored 15 points off the bench to help the Bobcats rout Toronto. (STREETER LECKA/Getty Images)

Gregg Popovich didn't coach 1,000 games in the NBA without having a few leads slip away on him.

Courtesy of the Oklahoma City Thunder, he can add another to that list.

Kevin Durant scored 25 points, Thabo Sefolosha added 12, and the Thunder spoiled Popovich's 1,000th game as San Antonio's coach by overcoming an early 17-point deficit to beat the Spurs, 78-76, last night in Oklahoma City.

San Antonio built its big lead in the opening 10 minutes, but that did nothing to secure a successful finish.

"Oftentimes, it's a coach's worst nightmare," Popovich said. "We've all had the leads. We've all lost them because it's a game. It's 48 minutes long. There are a lot of possessions. It can happen and it does happen often."

The Thunder didn't lead until midway through the fourth quarter, but kept San Antonio to its season low in scoring and escaped when Tony Parker missed a 3-pointer from the left side in the closing seconds.

Parker scored 28 points to lead San Antonio, and Tim Duncan had 14 points and 12 rebounds. Matt Bonner added 10 points.

Rockets 95, Hornets 84 - Ron Artest scored all of his 18 points in the second half, and visiting Houston overcame the absence of center Yao Ming in beating New Orleans.

Luis Scola and Aaron Brooks each scored 14 points, and Scola had 12 rebounds to help the Rockets end New Orleans's five-game home winning streak.

Chris Paul had 29 points and 11 assists for the Hornets, who've lost two straight.

Yao sat out with flu-like symptoms and Dikembe Mutombo started in his place.

Carl Landry and Von Wafer each scored 12 points and Shane Battier 11 as the Rockets, holding on to the third seed in the Western Conference, prevented the Hornets from passing them in the standings.

Nuggets 121, Nets 96 - J.R. Smith and Nene scored 19 points each, Chauncey Billups had 14 points and 10 assists, and host Denver extended its winning streak to three.

Vince Carter scored 32 points for the Nets, who went 0-4 on the Western Conference portion of their five-game road trip. New Jersey plays at the Knicks tomorrow. The Nets played without point guard Devin Harris, who strained his shoulder Sunday.

Trail Blazers 103, Grizzlies 92 - LaMarcus Aldridge had 22 points and eight rebounds and Brandon Roy finished with 20 points and nine assists to lead visiting Portland past Memphis.

Travis Outlaw added 18 points and Joel Przybilla had 13 points and 13 rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who are trying to reach the Western Conference playoffs for the first time since 2003. Portland is in the fifth spot in the West.

Bobcats 112, Raptors 86 - Gerald Wallace scored 25 points and host Charlotte began an important week for its playoff hopes by beating Toronto to snap a three-game losing streak.

D.J. Augustin added 15 points for the Bobcats, who moved within one game of idle Milwaukee and Chicago in the crowded race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.