Durant Scores 26 Sonics Squeak By Spurs 88-85

Kevin Durant scored 26 points including the eventual game winner?with just over 32 left in the game, and put an end to one of the?most disheartening stretches in the Seattle SuperSonics team history. Seattle ended their 14 game losing streak as they slipped past the defending NBA Champions the San Antonio Spurs 88-85. It was the team’s first win since beating the Minnesota Timberwolves back on December 29, and only the second time this season that Seattle has defeated a club with a winning record. After the game the rookie Durant, said it felt like the team had won the championship.

The Spurs were playing without one of their main weapons, point guard Tony?Parker, who was put on the inactive list before the game. Parker has been plagued with a bone spur in his left heel. San Antonio coach Greg Popovich sent him back to San Antonio, where he will undergo a MRI either Wednesday or Thursday. He is on the inactive list indefinitely in order to give the painful heel some time to rest.

The game remained tight throughout the contest, as San Antonio grabbed a razor thin lead at the end of the first quarter, as they had a 26-25 advantage, the lead was 48-46 at the half. The two teams stayed toe to toe in the third quarter, as the Spurs led 66-63 going into the final period. Seattle though became the aggressor in the final period taking the lead for good on Durant’s basket? at 87-85, then Luke Riddenour hit 1-2 at the line to make it a 3 point game. Manu Ginobili tried to hit a trey but missed, and the contest ended with Riddenour dribbling until time ran out.

Durant shot 9-19 from the floor including 1 trey, 7-7 from the line for his 26 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 1 block. Chris Wilcox recorded a double-double, 16 points, 10 boards, 2 assists, Nick Collison came off the bench and also registered a double-double, 14 points, 10 rebounds. Kurt Thomas scored 10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks, 1 assist.

Ginobili shot 10-17 from the floor, 4-6 from outside the arc, 5-8 from the line for a game high 29 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds. Tim Duncan recorded a double-double 27 points, 12 boards, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, Fabricio Oberto scored 12 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal. Seattle with the win is now 10-35, San Antonio is 28-16.