SALT LAKE CITY, April 10 (UPI) -- The Utah Jazz was knocked back into a tie for the final NBA Western Conference playoffs Tuesday by losing 90-80 by the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder.
Kevin Durant had 21 points and a dozen rebounds for the Thunder, who won their third consecutive road game and crept to within a half-game of idle San Antonio for the top seed in the Western Conference.
The Jazz wound up tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for the eighth and final playoff slot. The Lakers were in action against New Orleans Tuesday.
Russell Westbrook scored 25 for the Thunder, and Durant narrowly missed a triple-double by contributing nine assists to his scoring line.
Mo Williams led Utah with 19 points and Gordon Hayward added 17. The Jazz had won seven of eight games entering Tuesday's tilt.
Oklahoma City led most of the way. Utah pulled to 68-61 heading into the fourth quarter but Westbrook sank a 3-pointer with 4:30 to play to extend the Thunder lead to 12.
