Thunder roll behind 42 from Durant
NBA: Kevin Durant scored 42 points, Russell Westbrook had 27 points and 10 assists, and the Oklahoma City Thunder easily sent the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers to their sixth straight loss, 116-101 Friday night.
Kevin Martin scored 15 points and hit three 3-pointers for the Thunder, who romped to a 27-point lead in the second half of their seventh win in nine games. Oklahoma City (28-8) matched the Clippers for the NBA’s best record with a virtuoso game from Durant, who had 38 points midway through the third quarter.
Kobe Bryant scored 28 for the Lakers, on their first six-game skid since March 2007.
Antawn Jamison added 19 points as Los Angeles looked lost and overmatched in its third straight game without starting big men Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol.
The Lakers announced during the second quarter that backup big man Jordan Hill likely needs season-ending surgery on his left hip, presumably leaving more playing time for Gonzaga alum Rob Sacre, who started and played 22 minutes with six points and four rebounds before fouling out.
• Grizzlies top Spurs in overtime: Rudy Gay hit a pullup jumper from 14 feet with 27.8 seconds left, and Memphis held off San Antonio in overtime for its fourth straight victory and the first over its Southwest Division rival since the 2011 playoffs.
Tony Parker, who finished with 30 points for the Spurs, forced overtime, beating the fourth-quarter buzzer with a 27-footer tying it at 95.
• Curry, Warriors hold off late charge by Blazers: Stephen Curry scored 22 points, including two free throws with 16.4 seconds left, and the Golden State Warriors held off a late Portland charge to beat the Trail Blazers 103-97 in Oakland, Calif.
The Warriors led by 20 in the second half before Portland rookie and Oakland native Damian Lillard nearly rallied the Blazers. Lillard scored 17 of his career-high 37 points in the fourth quarter and made a 3-pointer that cut Golden State’s lead to 100-97 with 22.5 seconds remaining.
• Deng hot as Bulls dump Knicks: Luol Deng scored a season-high 33 points in the Chicago Bulls’ third victory over New York this season, a 108-101 win in New York that sent the Knicks to their third straight loss.
Deng shot 13 of 18 from the field and also led the defensive effort that contained Carmelo Anthony in the decisive first half of his return from a one-game suspension. Anthony poured it on in the second half, finishing with 39 points.
• Also in the NBA: Devin Harris scored a season-high 24 points and the Hawks rallied from 15 points down in the second half to defeat Utah 103-95 in Atlanta… Greivis Vasquez had 18 points and 13 assists to lead New Orleans to its fourth straight win, 104-92 over visiting Minnesota. … The Celtics nearly blew a 17-point lead before holding off Houston 103-91 in Boston. Paul Pierce scored 16 of his 23 points in the second half and Kevin Garnett added 17 points for the Celtics. … The Washington Wizards announced point guard John Wall has received “full medical clearance” and will make his season debut tonight against Atlanta.
Utah State extends winning streak
College basketball: Preston Medlin scored 25 points to lead Utah State to a 66-60 win over San Jose State in Logan, Utah, giving the Aggies (14-1, 5-0 WAC) a 13-game winning streak.
D.J. Brown led the Spartans (9-7, 3-2) with 16 points.
Rookies rule roost at Sony Open
Golf: Rookie Russell Henley had another 7-under 63 in the Sony Open in Honolulu and wound up with a two-shot lead over fellow rookie Scott Langley among early starters in the second round. He was at 14-under 126, which breaks by two shots the 36-hole record at this tournament.
In the first full-field event of the season, the two rookies are leading the way.
Dustin Johnson withdrew Friday after nine holes because of the flu.
Shafer officially takes over at Syracuse
College football: Scott Shafer was introduced as the new coach at Syracuse, and vowed to continue what Doug Marrone started four years ago.
Marrone, who was named coach of the Buffalo Bills Monday, preached discipline, accountability, character, and integrity.
Ferrer wins Heineken Open in Auckland
Miscellany: Top-seed David Ferrer beat second-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-6 (5), 6-1 to win the Heineken Open in Auckland, New Zealand, for the third straight year and fourth time overall.
• Radwanska wins in Sydney: Agnieszka Radwanska claimed back-to-back WTA titles by dispatching Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 6-0, 6-0 in the Sydney International tennis final.
• American Pikus-Pace wins skeleton: Noelle Pikus-Pace got her first World Cup win since 2004, beating two German sliders to the gold medal in a skeleton race in Koenigssee, Germany.
The American and 2007 world champion was injured before the 2006 Olympics and finished fourth in 2010, after which she retired. She has been sliding well since returning in November, but had yet to top the podium.