Oklahoma City Outlasts Minnesota In Double OT Thriller

Grant Belcher, News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY – A little more than a month ago, Kevin Durant and Kevin Love battled it out in the 3-point Shootout finals at All-Star Weekend.

Friday night must have been the rematch.

In an absolute barrage of 3-pointers from the two superstars, Oklahoma City held on to win a 149-140 double overtime game behind a monster night from Kevin Durant.

Durant hit multiple clutch 3-pointers, including one to force double overtime. He finished with 40 points on 15-of-26 shooting in 52 minutes of play.

Ironically, Durant's performance might not have been the best performance of the game.

The Timberwolves' Kevin Love put up a Minnesota franchise-high 51 points to go with 14 rebounds of his own.

If that wasn't enough, Durant wasn't even the highest scorer on his own team. That honor went to Russell Westbrook, who poured in a career-high 45 on 17-of-28 shooting.

At the end of regulation with the game tied at 113, Durant nailed a clutch 3-pointer with three seconds remaining to put his team up three.

But Kevin Love responded immediately, draining a 3 of his own to tie it up once again and force overtime.

Then in overtime, it was Durant's turn to hit the big tying shot.

Down three with 10 seconds left, Durant nailed another big 3-pointer, tying the game at 129 and forcing the second overtime period.

And that's when Oklahoma City finally began to wear the Timberwolves down.

The Thunder outscored the Timberwolves 20-11 in the second overtime period, finally bringing the All-Star Game-like scoring spree to an end.

Just like in the Thunder's crazy win against Denver earlier this year, it was a dramatic statistical night again for both teams.

Point guard J.J. Barea had a triple-double for Minnesota with 25 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds.

Earlier this season, Durant and Westbrook became the first teammates since Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen to each put up 40 points in the same game. With Friday's similar performance, the Thunder made it happen again for the second time since 1996.

OKC's 149 points was the most in the NBA this season, and the teams combined to put up 213 total shots.

The Thunder shot 53 percent from the field and 95 percent from the free throw line, and put in 74 points in the paint.

OKC (36-12) has a day off before a tough Sunday test in the Miami Heat. The teams will tip off at 7 p.m. Sunday at Chesapeake Energy Arena.