Thunder 107, Mavericks 101
DALLAS -- Russell Westbrook's 35 points paced Oklahoma City's three-pronged attack that proved too much for the Dallas Mavericks to overcome in the Thunder's 107-101 victory Sunday night at American Airlines Center.
Kevin Durant heated up in the fourth quarter to score 31, and Serge Ibaka added 18 points and 16 rebounds for the Thunder.
But it was Westbrook's 17-foot pull-up jumper with one minute left that broke a 101-101 tie and ultimately proved to be the game-winner.
Northwest Division-leading Oklahoma City improved to 50-17 -- the franchise's third 50-win season since relocating from Seattle. The Thunder are one game behind San Antonio (51-16) in the race for the top seed in the Western Conference. Oklahoma City has already clinched a playoff berth.
Dallas (31-35) continues to cling to its slim postseason hopes. The Mavericks came into the game three games back of the eighth-place Los Angeles Lakers.
Oklahoma City has now beaten the Mavericks 11 consecutive times, including last season's four-game first-round playoff sweep. This one, like most games in the rivalry, was close, but Oklahoma City continues to show how far it has come since losing to Dallas in the 2011 West finals.
Dirk Nowitzki made his first eight shots on his way to a team-high 23 points, but faded down the stretch. Vince Carter scored 18 off the bench for Dallas, which also had Mike James, Darren Collison and Jae Crowder score in double figures.
The Thunder's one-point lead at halftime stood up going into the final period. Oklahoma City went on a 7-0 run starting with the last basket of the third quarter and the first five points of the fourth. Dallas responded with its own 7-0 run to take a one-point (79-78) lead.
Oklahoma City would go up 88-81, but James (14 points) knocked down two 3-pointers as Dallas closed the gap to 92-91.
Durant heated up by scoring 12 of the Thunder's 14 next points to give the visitors a cushion.
Neither team could separate much in the first half, as the Thunder took a 50-49 into the break. Westbrook racked up 16 points by halftime, with Durant adding 12.
Nowitzki, 5-for-5 from the floor in the first half, and Carter each scored 11.
Dallas came out strong, especially James, in taking a 13-8 lead. The Mavericks led by as many as six and took a 26-24 lead into the second quarter. Oklahoma City remained close because of Westbrook, who scored 14 in first period on 5-of-7 shooting.
NOTES: Dallas' chances of slowing down Durant were hampered without Shawn Marion. The Mavericks' best perimeter defender has been out for six games with a strained right calf. Dallas rookie Crowder opened the game guarding Durant, but coach Rick Carlisle said slowing the NBA scoring leader down isn't a one-man job. "We've got to have the whole defense set up to help," Carlisle said. ... Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks said the Mavericks are a better team with Nowitzki back. "You see that his legs are underneath him now," Brooks said. "He's able to get up and down the court and not be as fatigued. I'm assuming that's what is happening because he's playing much better. " ... Thunder guard Derek Fisher returned to Dallas for the first time since leaving the Mavericks in December. Fisher played nine games for the Mavs before asking for his release. "I'll boo him like everybody else," Dallas owner Mark Cuban quipped. ... Mavs guard Roddy Beaubois is out indefinitely after suffering a fractured second metacarpal in his left hand in a first-half collision with Durant.
