NBA: Oklahoma City 101, Denver 94

DENVER, April 6 (UPI) -- Kevin Durant had 32 points and nine rebounds Tuesday to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder past Denver 101-94.

Russell Westbrook had 18 points and six assists for the Thunder, who took a four-game lead over Denver in the race for the fourth position in the Western Conference playoffs. The two teams meet again Friday in Oklahoma City.

Ty Lawson led the Nuggets with 28 points. Danilo Gallinari scored 17.

Durant scored four points in a fourth-quarter surge by the Thunder that extended their lead to 85-72 with 6 1/2 minutes to play. Oklahoma City relied on steady free-throw shooting down the stretch to prevent the Nuggets from getting closer than four.