Former Most Valuable Player (MVP) forward Kevin Durant is really back as he led the Oklahoma City Thunder to 104–98 overtime victory over the Utah Jazz Sunday, with the win being their fifth consecutive.
The Thunder struggled in the first half and trailed as much as 16 points in the game, but Durant exploded in the second half to finish with a team-leading 31 points, also having five rebounds, six assists, one steal, and one block.
In a report by the Associated Press, Durant spoke about his first half struggles in the game and said, "I was getting a little frustrated with myself and I just had to calm down."
"At halftime, I just told myself to calm down and go get the ball and try to score. It's as simple as that — try to score and then that's what opened it up for my teammates," he added.
Along with Durant, All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook also shone for Oklahoma City having another double-double performance of 25 points and 11 rebounds, also listing five assists, two steals, and two blocks.
Thunder guard Dion Waiters and Center Enes Kanter also emerged for the Thunder coming off the bench.
Waiter had 13 points and three rebounds that came with four assists, while Kanter tallied 10 points, six rebounds, and one block.
Sunday's win gave Oklahoma City a 16–8 record which is enough for the third spot in the Western Conference standings, 7.5 games behind the conference-leading Golden State Warriors.
Next for the Thunder is a home stand this Wednesday against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Meanwhile, the Jazz failed to bounce back from the loss to Oklahoma City as they were also defeated by the San Antonio Spurs on the road Monday, 118–81.
The Jazz are now riding a three-game losing skid after the setback against the Spurs for a 10–13 record, which still places them eighth in the Western Conference.
