OKLAHOMA CITY, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combined for 69 points Friday and fueled Oklahoma City to a 114-108 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Thunder ran their winning streak to seven games with Durant and Westbrook pushing the Oklahoma City lead to as many as 19 points late in the third period.
Los Angeles closed within five with 20 seconds remaining, but the 35-point effort from Kobe Bryant was not enough to bring the Lakers what would have been back-to-back victories.
Durant made 10-of-19 shots from the field and 14-of-16 from the foul line to score 36 points. Westbrook had eight assists to go with his 33 points.
Bryant took 24 shots to compile his 35 points while Dwight Howard had 23 points and 18 rebounds. Pau Gasol missed his third straight game for the Lakers with sore knees.
Oklahoma City picked up its 16th win of the season, tying San Antonio for the most in the NBA. It was the Thunder's 10th victory in 11 games.
The Lakers have lost six of their last nine and dropped two games below the breakeven mark. They went 1-2 on a brief road trip and will now go back to Los Angeles for a game against Utah on Sunday. The Lakers will then embark on another road trip of four games.
