DALLAS, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Kevin Durant scored 28 points Thursday and hit a 3-pointer during a fourth-quarter run that pushed the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 99-95 victory over Dallas.
The Mavericks played their sixth straight game without leading scorer Dirk Nowitzki, who suffered a strained knee Dec. 27 in Oklahoma City. The Mavericks held on to win that game but have gone 2-4 since, after losing just five times in their first 29 games.
Dallas will be without Caron Butler, its second-leading scorer, for the rest of the season due to a knee injury that required surgery.
The Mavericks trailed by only two points early in the final period but the Thunder went on a 16-7 run to take control. Jeff Green added 16 points for Oklahoma City and Russell Westbrook had 15 points and nine assists.
The Thunder had lost their previous two games.
Dallas was led by Shawn Marion with 25 points and Tyson Chandler with 18 rebounds.
