SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Russell Westbrook had 32 points and seven assists, Kevin Durant scored 26 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the reeling Sacramento Kings 104-92 on Tuesday night for their seventh straight win.

The Kings played their first game since Michael Malone was fired as coach and lead assistant Tyrone Corbin was promoted to the head job, and trailed 9-0 after 2 1-2 minutes. They dropped to 2-8 while franchise centerpiece DeMarcus Cousins recovers from viral meningitis.

The Thunder went ahead by 16 in the first quarter, led by just seven at the half and pulled away again in the closing minutes behind their star duo. Oklahoma City improved to 7-1 since Durant returned from a fractured right foot.

Rudy Gay scored 22 points, and reserve Carl Landry added 14 points for the Kings.

The Kings twice went ahead in the fourth quarter on jumpers by Landry. Then Oklahoma City clamped down on defense, Westbrook and Durant took turns making shots and the Thunder led 98-88 lead with 2:47 remaining.

The Thunder (12-13) started the season 3-12 while dealing with injuries to Durant and Westbrook but are rediscovering their championship-contender form with both healthy again.

The Kings (11-14) have struggled since losing their top player and are now dealing with a surprising coaching change. Sacramento fired Malone late Sunday night just 24 games into his second season, citing philosophical differences.

Kings owner Vivek Ranadive and general manager Pete D'Alessandro — who was hired two weeks after Malone — want a more up-tempo, offensive-oriented system, while Malone preached defense and rebounding.

Ranadive sat in his usual courtside seat. Corbin limped on the sideline with a walking boot on his left leg, which he injured a couple weeks ago while working out.

Some fans in the white towel-waving crowd began booing after the Thunder's opening burst and the game looked ready to become a rout.

Oklahoma City went up 34-18 in the first quarter, but Sacramento sliced the Thunder's lead to three in the second. The Kings also had the highlight of the half when Gay dunked over renowned shot-blocker Serge Ibaka.

TIP-INS

Thunder: Durant, who's 26 years old, became the second-youngest player to surpass 15,000 points. Only LeBron James (25) was younger. ... The Thunder improved to 2-0 against Sacramento this season. They also beat the Kings 101-93 on Nov. 9 in Oklahoma City.

Kings: The team retired Peja Stojakovic's No. 16 jersey during a halftime ceremony. ... Rookie forward Eric Moreland was recalled from the Reno Bighorns, the team's NBA Development League affiliate.

UP NEXT

Thunder: At Golden State on Thursday.

Kings: Host Milwaukee on Thursday.