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.
