Oklahoma City Thunder extend winning streak

Kevin Durant scored 41 points, including the game-winning jumper with 1.5 seconds left, and the Oklahoma City Thunder rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit to beat the Atlanta Hawks, 111-109, Monday night for their eighth consecutive victory.

Durant scored 13 in the fourth quarter, including a 16-foot, step-back jumper with 25.5 seconds left that put Oklahoma City ahead for the first time since the opening two minutes. Paul Millsap tied it for Atlanta before Durant knocked down the decisive 12-footer while being guarded by DeMarre Carroll.

Shelvin Mack tried to pass to Millsap on the final play, but Thabo Sefolosha knocked it away. Millsap led the Hawks with 23 points.

Durant’s 11-game streak of 30 or more points is the longest in the NBA since Tracy McGrady did it in 14 straight games in March and April 2003. Durant, who made 15 of 25 shots and five of seven from three-point range, has had four 40-point outings during his streak.

Oklahoma City takes the Western Conference’s best record (36-10) into a showdown Wednesday at Miami, the two-time defending NBA champion.

Minnesota 95, at Chicago 86: Kevin Love scored 31 points to lead the Timberwolves to their fourth win in five games, and their first over the Bulls in the last eight meetings. Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 14 rebounds for Chicago, which played without center Joakim Noah (illness) and guard Kirk Hinrich (hamstring strain). Minnesota lost center Nikola Pekovic, who exited after six minutes because of a sore right Achilles’ tendon.

Toronto 104, at Brooklyn 103: Patrick Patterson stole Deron Williams’ inbounds pass and made the go-ahead jumper with six seconds left, and the Raptors stopped a five-game Nets winning streak for the second time this month. Kyle Lowry finished with 31 points and seven assists for Toronto, which moved 21/2 games ahead of Brooklyn for the Atlantic Division lead. Paul Pierce had his best game as a Net, scoring 33 points.

Phoenix 124, at Philadelphia 113: Gerald Green scored 30 points and Goran Dragic had 24 to lead the Suns, who led wire-to-wire one night after they rallied from an 18-point halftime deficit to win at Cleveland. Michael Carter-Williams had 22 points and 11 assists for the 76ers, who have lost 10 of 12.

at Utah 106, Sacramento 99: Derrick Favors had 17 points, five teammates scored in double figures, and the Jazz (16-29) escaped the Western Conference cellar, replaced there by the Kings (15-29).