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Monday, February 13, 2017
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Former OKC cager Kevin Durant (35) surges past Thunder star and ex-dynamo partner Russell Westbrook (0) during their NBA clash at Oklahoma City on Saturday.AP
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OKLAHOMA – After a roller-coaster of emotions surrounding his return to Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant was glad to come out with a win and move on.
Durant scored 34 points while being booed throughout the night, and as the Golden State Warriors beat the Thunder, 130-114, in a chippy game on Saturday night.
It was Durant’s first game back since he left the Thunder after eight seasons in Oklahoma City to join the rival Warriors as a free agent last summer. The crowd jeered him loudly during pregame warmups, starter introductions and whenever he touched the ball.
”Basketball is fun in general, especially in an environment like this,” Durant said. ”The crowd was amazing. They were loud – as loud as I’ve ever heard them.”
Russell Westbrook did it all for the Thunder with 47 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. In the end, Golden State’s depth and balance were too much. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson both scored 26 points for the Warriors.
Emotions ran high throughout the game. At one point in the third quarter, Durant and Westbrook yelled at each other as they walked toward their benches during a timeout.
Westbrook said too much attention has been paid to his relationship with Durant.
”I do think it doesn’t make sense,” Westbrook said. ”It’s over with. He plays for his team, I play with my team. Let him do his thing, I do my thing, and that’s it, plain and simple.”
Later in the third quarter, Oklahoma City’s Andre Roberson fouled Durant hard, and the two got in each other’s faces and were called for technical fouls.
”It’s part of the game and I respect that,” Durant said. ”We should have just kept playing. I don’t even think they should have reviewed anything. It’s a part of it. Hard fouls, (expletive) talking – all that stuff is just a part of the game. That’s what makes it fun for us.” (AP)
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