(The Sports Xchange) – – –Blitzed by the Houston Rockets’ perimeter shooting in the second quarter, the Oklahoma City Thunder turned to their third-ranked defense to grind out a 104-92 victory.
After Houston (26-15) established a season high with 73 points in the first half, the Thunder surrendered just 19 in the second half.
The Rockets shot seven-for-36 (19.4 percent) from the floor following the intermission.
Kevin Durant paced the Thunder (29-10) with 36 points, including 10 in the third quarter when he matched the Rockets’ output that period. Serge Ibaka posted 21 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks, and Reggie Jackson added 23 points and six steals.
Houston guard James Harden totaled 16 points, none in the second half, with seven rebounds and eight assists.
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Nets 127, Hawks 110
Brooklyn forward Joe Johnson torched his old team for 29 points and the Nets routed the Atlanta Hawks 127-110 in the NBA Global Game in London.
Johnson, who spent seven seasons with Atlanta, had 26 points at the half. He made 11 of 15 from the floor and was six-for-eight on three-pointers and the Nets are now 8-3 this season when Johnson scores 20 points.
The Nets have won six of their last seven games and beat the Hawks for the fourth time in five games.
The Nets (16-22) also got 20 points forward Andray Blatche, who came off the bench and added a season-high 14 rebounds and six assists.
Atlanta (20-19) was led by forward Mike Scott and guard Shelvin Mack, who each came off the bench to score 17 points.
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Pacers 117, Knicks 89
Guard Lance Stephenson had a career-high 28 points and forward Paul George scored 25 as the Indiana Pacers blitzed the New York Knicks 117-89.
Indiana (31-7) improved the league’s best home record to 20-1.
Forward David West produced 12 points and center Roy Hibbert added 11 for the Pacers, who have won 11 of their last 13 contests and put six scorers in double figures.
Including playoff games, the Knicks (15-24) have dropped their last seven games at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Forward Carmelo Anthony led New York with 28 points and seven rebounds.
