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Associated Press 9y

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NBA, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs, New Orleans Pelicans, Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Kevin Durant scored 44 points in his return from a six-game absence and the Oklahoma City Thunder overcame Russell Westbrook's ejection to beat the Phoenix Suns 137-134 in overtime Wednesday night.

Coming back from a sprained right ankle, Durant was 13 of 23 from the field and 12 for 12 at the free-throw line. He also had 10 rebounds and seven assists.

Anthony Murrow broke a tie in overtime with a four-point play, and the Thunder held on when Markieff Morris missed a potential go-ahead 3-pointer with 2.9 seconds left.

Westbrook picked up two technical fouls late in the first half. Westbrook and Suns center Alex Len got tangled on a rebound, resulting in a brief skirmish that resulted in a flagrant foul on Len and a technical on Westbrook. After Westbrook hit two free throws, Durant and Markieff Morris were given technicals for jawing at each other.

Once play resumed, Westbrook converted a layup and was fouled, then was called for his second technical, forcing his ejection 7.8 seconds left before halftime. He had 20 points in the half.

Eric Bledsoe led the Suns with 29 points. Morris had 25 and Goran Dragic finished with 21.

SPURS 95, PELICANS 93

SAN ANTONIO -- Manu Ginobili had 26 points, and the Spurs avoided their fourth overtime loss at home in December.

Ginobili had seven points in overtime, helping the Spurs (20-14) overcome an early six-point deficit in the extra period.

San Antonio star Tim Duncan had 16 points and 10 rebounds, tying Hall of Famer Karl Malone for fifth in career double-doubles with 814.

Anthony Davis had 21 points and 12 rebounds for New Orleans (16-16).

It appeared as if New Orleans was poised for a big road win when Davis followed Tyreke Evans' miss with an emphatic dunk, giving the Pelicans an 84-82 lead with 0.7 seconds left. But Duncan sent the game to overtime, credited with tipping in Boris Diaw's inbounds pass at the rim when it looked as if Pelicans center Omer Asik had tapped it in.

BUCKS 98, CAVALIERS 80

CLEVELAND -- Brandon Knight scored 26 points and Milwaukee led most of the way in a road win over short-handed Cleveland, which played without LeBron James for the second straight game.

James was sidelined because of a sore left knee, an injury that also forced him to miss Tuesday's game against Atlanta. Kevin Love was out with back spasms, and the Cavaliers went on to their fourth loss in five games.

O.J. Mayo scored 15 points for the Bucks (17-16), and Giannis Antetokounmpo added 14 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

Kyrie Irving scored 25 points for Cleveland, and Tristan Thompson had 10 points and 13 rebounds. The Cavaliers scored seven points in the third quarter, a season low.

ROCKETS 102, HORNETS 83

HOUSTON -- James Harden scored 36 points, and Houston bounced back from consecutive losses.

A big run to start the third quarter put the Rockets well ahead, and Harden put it away when he scored eight straight points to push the advantage to 99-79 with 2½ minutes remaining and send the starters to the bench.

The loss extends Charlotte's skid to four games. The Hornets played without leading scorer Al Jefferson, who is out with a left groin strain.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Gerald Henderson scored 16 points apiece for the Hornets.

It was the NBA-leading 14th 30-point game this season for Harden, who leads the league in scoring. He made eight 3-pointers and also had six assists and seven rebounds.

PACERS 106, HEAT 95

INDIANAPOLIS -- C.J. Miles scored 25 points for Indiana, and George Hill added 20.

The Pacers (12-21) have won six straight regular-season home games against the Heat.

Dwyane Wade led Miami (14-19) with 20 points. Chris Bosh had 18 points and eight rebounds, but the Heat lost their third straight since beating LeBron James and the Cavaliers on Christmas.

Miami appeared to be in position to end the skid after scoring the last four points of the second quarter and extending the lead to 56-46 early in the third.

But Miles and C.J. Watson combined for 10 points in a quarter-closing 17-2 run that erased a 68-61 deficit and gave the Pacers a 78-70 lead.

CLIPPERS 99, KNICKS 78

LOS ANGELES -- J.J. Redick scored 20 points, and the Clippers handed the Knicks a year-ending ninth consecutive loss.

DeAndre Jordan added 14 points and 12 rebounds for Los Angeles, and Blake Griffin had 13 points, seven rebounds and tied his career high with 11 assists. Jordan and Griffin scored four points apiece in a 13-0 run at the start of the third period that stretched the Clippers' lead from 10 points to 23.

Carmelo Anthony was the only Knicks player in double figures with 19 points despite a sore right knee.

Knicks team president Phil Jackson was on hand at Staples Center, where he once guided the Lakers to repeat NBA championships. New York tied a season low for points while dropping to 2-16 on the road.

PACERS 106, HEAT 95

INDIANAPOLIS -- C.J. Miles scored 25 points for Indiana, and George Hill added 20.

The Pacers (12-21) have won six straight regular-season home games against the Heat.

Dwyane Wade led Miami (14-19) with 20 points. Chris Bosh had 18 points and eight rebounds, but the Heat lost their third straight since beating LeBron James and the Cavaliers on Christmas.

Miami appeared to be in position to end the skid after scoring the last four points of the second quarter and extending the lead to 56-46 early in the third.

But Miles and C.J. Watson combined for 10 points in a quarter-closing 17-2 run that erased a 68-61 deficit and gave the Pacers a 78-70 lead.

CELTICS 106, KINGS 84

BOSTON -- Jared Sullinger had 20 points and 11 rebounds, and the Celtics snapped a four-game losing streak.

Kelly Olynyk added 15 points for Boston, which never trailed and avoided matching its longest losing streak this season.

Darren Collison and Carl Landry each scored 14 points to lead the Kings, who lost for the ninth time in 11 games.

Sacramento forward DeMarcus Cousins was ejected after collecting his second technical of the game midway into the final quarter. He finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Boston led by 16 after three quarters and pushed it to 92-67 when Olynyk's 3-pointer capped a 9-0 spurt with just over seven minutes to play.

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