NBA Roundup: Kevin Durant Scores 52 Points, Looking for 50-40-90 Season

On Friday, the Oklahoma City Thunder (32-8) took until over time to defeat the Dallas Mavericks (17-24), 117-114. For Kevin Durant, he scored a career-high 52 points–the first NBA game with 50 points scored by a player this season. This surpassed his previous 51-point high from February 2012.

He has a 28 over/under for total points per game this season.

In addition to the large number, Durant also scored the go-ahead basket with teammate Russell Westbrook making one free throw with two seconds remaining for the three-point Thunder win.

For the game, Durant struggled from the field (13 for 31) but couldn’t miss from the foul line (21 for 21).

Kevin Durant

During the fourth quarter, the team hit all 12 free throws and Durant’s pair put his team in the lead 99-98 with 1:32 remaining in regulation time. Two additional free throws followed but a three-pointer by the Mavericks O.J. Mayo kicked the game into overtime.

At 2:04 in OT, Durant’s three-pointer gave the Thunder the first lead. This catapulted the Thunder’s dominance in the last two minutes, leading to the win.

Durant said of the game via ESPN, “Experience has helped me a lot. If I look like I’m out there panicking, my teammates will look at me and feel the same way. I’ve got to be cool. If I miss a shot, so be it. I’m sure opportunity will come back around sooner or later.”

He has been in the league since 2007 and already has a number of honors. On Thursday, he was again named to the NBA All-Star game. This will represent his fourth straight game and his third consecutive one as a starter.

Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said of Durant, “He’s the best offensive player on the planet.  I don’t think there’s any question about that. There’s some things we obviously could have done to limit him, and that’s on me, too.”

Russell Westbrook

As for Durant’s teammates, Westbrook scored 31 points (12 for 26), six rebounds and six assists. Combined with Durant, they scored 83 total points.

Serge Ibaka added 11 points and 14 boards but sixth man Kevin Martin continues struggling on the road.

Prior to Friday’s game, Martin was averaging 16.9 points on the home court but 12.5 points on the road.

His home stats includes shooting 48.1 percent from the field, 50.5 percent for three-pointers and 92.5 percent at the free throw line but look at these road stats: shooting 38.3 percent from the field, 33.3 percent for three-pointers and 89.1 percent in free throws.

In Friday’s road game, Martin had 11 points (3 for 10 from the field and 1 for 6 in three-pointers).

But the Thunder have a six-game win streak going and will play the Denver Nuggets (24-18) on Sunday. The team last played on Wednesday, Jan. 16 with the Thunder winning 117-97.

In that game, Westbrook had 32 points and Durant added 20 points for the win.

With the NBA season entering the mid point, Durant’s pursuit of shooting 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from the 3-point range and 90 percent from the free-throw line is building.

After Wednesday’s game against Denver, the player was shooting 52.5 percent from the field, 40.2 percent from three-pointers and 90.1 percent from the line to date, according to NewsOk.

Should Durant accomplish this, he’ll be in good company as only five NBA players have accomplished the feat: Steve Nash (four times), Larry Bird (twice), and once for Reggie Miller, Dirk Nowitzki and Enid’s Mark Price.

If you add up Durant’s shooting percentages, it’s 182.8.

But is this honor weighing on the player’s mind?

Durant said on Wednesday, “No, but I don’t know if I can keep it up for the whole season. I’ve been shooting a lot of 3s lately. I’ve got to cut down on those. I’ve got to shoot better shots.”

For the Thunder, they seem unstoppable at this point and are +350 for June’s championship.