OKLAHOMA CITY, April 28 (UPI) -- Kevin Durant scored 41 points and had a key block Wednesday that lifted Oklahoma City into the second round of the playoffs with a 100-97 win over Denver.
Durant produced 16 points in the fourth quarter, then turned aside a 3-point attempt by J.R. Smith that would have tied the game with 9 second remaining.
The Thunder knocked Denver out of the playoffs in five games to win a playoff series for the first time since moving to Oklahoma City from Seattle.
They will next meet either San Antonio or Memphis. San Antonio kept its season alive Wednesday with an overtime win over Memphis, but the Grizzlies still lead that series 3-2.
Oklahoma City overcame a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter and also survived a 3-for-15 shooting performance from Russell Westbrook, who scored 14 points.
Durant made 14-of-27 from the field and 11-of-12 from the foul line.
Serge Ibaka missed all four of his field goal attempts and scored only one point for the Thunder but he came within one of the NBA playoff record by blocking nine shots. One of those blocks came on an attempted jam by Nene in the final minute.
Denver, which had kept its season going by winning the fourth game of the series Monday, was led by 15 points from Arron Afflalo.
