Durant tames Timberwolves

MINNEAPOLIS (AP):

Kevin Durant had career highs of 47 points and 18 rebounds, and the Oklahoma City Thunder overcame a 31-point, 21-rebound night from Kevin Love to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 118-117 in overtime on Wednesday night.

Jeff Green had 19 points and eight rebounds for the Thunder, who beat Minnesota for the eighth straight time. But it was Durant who carried the load, scoring 16 straight points for the Thunder in the fourth quarter of a thrilling back-and-forth game.

Durant's 47 points tied Clippers star Blake Griffin for the highest total in the NBA this season.

Michael Beasley had 30 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Timberwolves, who had a chance to win the game in the final 7 seconds. But Luke Ridnour rushed a 3-pointer after a missed free throw by Corey Brewer and the Thunder tracked down the loose ball to seal it.

Hornets 112 Warriors 103

OAKLAND, Calif (AP):

Chris Paul had 18 points and 17 assists, and the Hornets matched a franchise record with their 10th consecutive victory.

David West added 22 points as New Orleans kicked off a three-game West Coast trip by equaling the club's longest unbeaten run, also produced from February 21-March 13, 1998. The Hornets also avenged a disappointing seven-point home loss to the Warriors back on January 5 with their fifth straight road victory.

New Orleans, owner of the NBA's longest active winning streak, also got 19 points from Trevor Ariza and 11 from former Warrior Marco Belinelli.

Monta Ellis scored 26 points in another big night for his bid to become Golden State's first All-Star since Latrell Sprewell in 1997. Stephen Curry added 20 points and six assists a day after spraining his troublesome right ankle during practice.

Spurs 112 Jazz 105

SALT LAKE CITY (AP):

Manu Ginobili scored 26 points, Tony Parker had 23 and San Antonio earned its 10th win the last 11 games.

Richard Jefferson scored 14 points, while Tim Duncan and Gary Neal each had 13 as the Spurs improved to a franchise-best 39-7 record after 46 games. Only five teams in NBA history have had better records than the Spurs at this point in the season.

Deron Williams scored 17 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter, but Utah lost its sixth straight. Al Jefferson had 22 points and CJ Miles added 13 for the Jazz, who swept the Spurs in 2009-10 but have lost both meetings this season.

Ginobili took a lob pass from Duncan and scored to make it 107-97 with 2:00 to play. Williams cut the lead to 109-105 on a driving layup, but he missed two long 3-point attempts in the final 15 seconds.

Other results: Nets 93 Grizzlies 88; Rockets 96 Clippers 83; Bobcats 114 Suns 107; Bucks 98 Hawks 90; Magic 111 Pacers 96; 76ers 107 Raptors 94; Nuggets 109 Pistons 100.