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NBA roundup

Durant, Thunder slip past Orlando

Associated Press / January 14, 2011

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Kevin Durant scored 36 points, Russell Westbrook added 32 in his fourth career triple-double, and the Thunder fought off the Orlando Magic, 125-124, last night in Oklahoma City for their fourth straight win.

The Thunder stayed unbeaten in nationally televised games this season, having beaten the Bulls, Celtics, Nuggets, Mavericks, and Magic once and Trail Blazers twice — and they play another marquee game Monday against the Los Angeles Lakers.

“Everybody gets up, I guess, for playing on TV. It’s always fun,’’ said Durant, who is averaging 32.8 points on national TV this season — 4.5 points higher than his NBA-leading average. “We only had two or three [games] last year, so to have as many as we have now is a blessing and we just try to have a good showing.’’

Westbrook also had 13 assists and 10 rebounds in Oklahoma City’s highest-scoring game of the season. It was the second straight game the Thunder set a season high for points in regulation, and this time they even surpassed their output in a triple-overtime win against New Jersey.

Dwight Howard led Orlando with 39 points and 18 rebounds, and J.J. Redick made four 3-pointers and scored 18 points while leading a failed comeback.

Nuggets 130, Heat 102 — Reserve J.R. Smith scored 28 points and Carmelo Anthony added 21 to lead host Denver over a Miami team missing LeBron James (sprained left ankle).

Nene contributed 17 points and Chauncey Billups had 13 assists as the Nuggets routed a second straight opponent. They beat Phoenix by 34 points two nights earlier.

Chris Bosh scored 24 points and Dwyane Wade added 16 for Miami, which lost two in a row for the first time since dropping three straight in late November.

James sat out after being hurt the night before in a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said before the game that James will likely try to play tomorrow in Chicago.

The Heat haven’t won a game in Denver since Jan. 29, 2002. Still, Miami is 30-11 at the season’s midpoint, tying its best start.

Timberwolves 109, Wizards 97 — Kevin Love had 35 points and 11 rebounds and Darko Milicic had 14 points and 11 rebounds to keep Washington winless on the road.

John Wall had 14 points and 10 assists for the Wizards, who fell to 0-19 away from home. They are the only team that has yet to win away from home this season.

The Timberwolves trailed by 4 with 5:46 to play, but closed the game with a 19-1 surge to snap a five-game losing streak. Love scored 8 points during the run, making up for the absence of Michael Beasley, who was out with a sprained left ankle.

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