LOS ANGELES — Kevin Durant delivered 42 points, eight rebounds and five assists Friday as Oklahoma City dealt the reeling Los Angeles Lakers a sixth straight NBA defeat, 116-101. Russell Westbrook scored 27 points with 10 assists and Kevin Martin chipped in 15 points for the Thunder, who have won four of their last five games. "A great team win for us," said Durant. "My teammates did a good job of getting me the ball. We moved the ball so well, which makes it easy for everybody." Meanwhile, nothing seems easy these days for the Lakers. Kobe Bryant led Los Angeles with 28 points and Antawn Jamison contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds, but the Lakers have now lost six in a row for the first time since a seven-game skid from March 2-15 in 2007. "We played hard the whole game, but they were just better," Lakers head coach Mike D'Antoni said. "They were just longer, faster, better team-wise and we crumbled away." The Lakers were again without Dwight Howard, who is nursing a shoulder injury, and Pau Gasol, who is recovering from a concussion. And they got more bad news on the day when Jordan Hill was advised that his hip injury needs season-ending surgery. After it was over, Los Angeles remained five games behind Portland for the eighth and final playoff berth in the Western Conference. Bulls 108, Knicks 101: Luol Deng scored a season-high 33 points in the Chicago Bulls' third victory over New York this season, a win that sent the Knicks to their season-high third straight loss. Topping the 29 points he scored here last month, 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. Carlos Boozer added 17 points for the Bulls, whose offense won't be at full strength until Derrick Rose is back from knee surgery, yet they still shot 57 percent. Anthony ended up with 39 points for the Knicks, who were roughed up again a night after losing in Indiana.Hawks 103, Jazz 95: Devin Harris scored a season-high 24 points and Atlanta rallied from 15 points down in the second half. Randy Foye had 25 points to lead Utah, which had won four of five but was denied its first back-to-back road wins of the season. Al Jefferson had 23 points and 10 rebounds and Paul Milsap had 20 points and 13 rebounds for the Jazz. The Hawks, who trailed 75-60 in the third quarter, played from behind before taking their first lead of the second half on consecutive baskets by Al Horford. The second basket by Horford, set up by Josh Smith's pass, gave Atlanta a 94-92 lead with 2:44 remaining. Jefferson answered with a tying basket before Ivan Johnson scored on a fast break to give the lead back to Atlanta. Utah's Jamaal Tinsley made one of two free throws to leave the Hawks' lead at 96-95. Josh Smith's short jumper and Lou Williams' 3-pointer padded the lead. Hornets 104, Timberwolves 92: Greivis Vasquez had 18 points and 13 assists to lead New Orleans to its fourth straight win. Eric Gordon added 16 points, Ryan Anderson had 15, Jason Smith 14, Al-Farouz Aminu 12 and Roger Mason 10 for the Hornets, who have won five out of six with Gordon in the starting lineup. Luke Ridnour scored 20 points to lead a balanced Timberwolves offense. Nikola Pekovic added 18 points, Andrei Kirilenko 17, Dante Cunningham 12 and Alexey Shved 11. New Orleans trailed 29-14 after the first quarter but outscored Minnesota 56-32 over the next two periods to take a 70-61 lead. The Hornets hit the century mark for the first time since 113-102 loss to Minnesota on Dec. 14. Celtics 103, Rockets 91: Paul Pierce scored 16 of his 23 points in the second half and Kevin Garnett added 17 points and four blocks as Boston nearly blew a 17-point lead before pulling away late. In other games it was Nets 99, Suns 79; Raptors 99, Bobcats 78; Pistons 103, Bucks 87; Grizzlies 101, Spurs 98, OT; Nuggets 98, Cavaliers 91; Warriors 103, Trail Blazers 97. — Agencies
