Kevin Durant stars as Oklahoma City Thunder win at Detroit, 91-83
By LARRY LAGE, AP Sports Writer
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Published: October 30, 2009
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Kevin Durant scored 11 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 91-83 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Friday night.
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The franchise is 2-0 for the first time since the 2003-04 season when it was in Seattle. The Thunder began 1-16 last season, their first in Oklahoma City, and didn't get their second victory until Nov. 29. The poor start cost coach P.J. Carlesimo his job.
Ben Gordon, starting for the injured Richard Hamilton, had 25 points in his home debut for Detroit after scoring 22 in their season-opening win at Memphis.
Durant made go-ahead free throws late in the third quarter and kept Oklahoma City ahead in the fourth with an array of shots such as a dunk, fadeaway and 3-pointer.
The young Thunder, though, had more than just Durant to beat the rebuilding Pistons.
Jeff Green had 16 points for Oklahoma City, Nenad Krstic scored 14 and Russell Westbrook had 10 points and 10 assists.
Hamilton, who will also be out Saturday at Milwaukee, sprained his right ankle Wednesday night in the Pistons' opener.
The Pistons started strong, leading 24-16 after the first quarter, but struggled to find a rhythm on offense the rest of the game.
In the fourth quarter, Detroit didn't have an assist and it finished with more turnovers (15) than assists (12) and shot just 37 percent from the field.
The Pistons started last season as an Eastern Conference contender, then revamped the team early in the season by trading Chauncey Billups to Denver for Allen Iverson, cap space and playing time for Rodney Stuckey. In the offseason, they lost Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess to free agency and expectations for this season plummeted.
The Thunder, meanwhile, look like they might be as good as they are young.
Their starting lineup doesn't have a player with more than five years' experience and overall, they have the second-youngest team in the league. Rookie James Harden had eight points and eight assists in his first NBA road game.
Detroit led for much of the first three quarters, then fell behind 62-61 after eight lead changes and seven ties.
The Thunder simply wouldn't let them come back in the fourth quarter as a sparse crowd thinned out in an arena that used to be regularly packed.
Talk about the Thunder's big road win on ThunderMadness.com, Oklahoma City's premier NBA fan site
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Virility Ex
Nick Collison make some big shots. Thabo drains a dagger.Thomas with physicality in the paint. Jeff and Nenad steady and consistent.
What does it say when Kevin scores 25 and we're talking about guard play? It's all about guard play and team defense.
I'm so excited and like Joe...I wouldn't trade back for the Hornets. I like the future with this bunch.
El Prez, Deer
Whoo, baby again...the NBA Where Amazing Happens.
Let's make it 3-0 against Portland on Sunday.
El Prez, Deer Creek
THATS RIGHT, WE BAD! WE BAD!
We are 2-0 - WE BAD! THATS RIGHT!