BASKETBALL:Kevin Durant scored 22 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder broke the San Antonio Spurs' 20-game winning streak with a 102-82 home victory in Game three of the National Basketball Association's Western Conference finals.
The Spurs, who hadn’t been beaten since a 98-84 loss against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 11th, still lead the best-of-seven play-off series two games to one. Game four is set for tonight at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City.
“We never thought these guys had an advantage over us even though we had lost a few,” said Durant. “It was just good that we took it to 2-1. We didn’t want to go down 0-3.”
Thabo Sefolosha scored 19 points for the Thunder, who led 8-0 in the first three minutes of the game. Oklahoma, who haven’t lost at home during the play-offs, extended the lead to 54-41 at half-time.
“We just played a good basketball game,” said Thunder coach Scott Brooks.
“We played with a lot of force, we played with good energy, but we played defensive-minded basketball. That’s who we are. That’s how we win.”
Tony Parker and Stephen Jackson each notched 16 points for the Spurs, who had a postseason-worst 21 turnovers that were converted into 20 points by the Thunder.
The loss prevented the San Antonia Spurs from equalling the record for most wins to start the postseason set by the Lakers, who won 11 straight in 1989 and 2001.
The winner of the series will face the Miami Heat or Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.
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