Durant firing blanks in fourth quarter

MIAMI (AFP) –

Oklahoma City Thunder‘s Kevin Durant takes part in a practice session in preparation for game four of the NBA Finals at the American Airlines Arena in Miami. Durant says he’s not about to start second-guessing himself just because he’s not scoring in the fourth quarter of the NBA finals like he has in some of his earlier postseason games.

Kevin Durant says he’s not about to start second-guessing himself just because he’s not scoring in the fourth quarter of the NBA finals like he has in some of his earlier postseason games.

“I’m going to shoot until my arm falls off in the fourth,” said Durant, who scored a team high 25 points as Oklahoma City lost game three of the NBA finals 91-85 to the Miami Heat.

The three-time league scoring champion Durant had just four points in the fourth quarter of game three, the second-straight game he has gotten into foul trouble in the second half.

“I missed a few shots going to the rim,” said Durant during Monday’s practice at the American Airlines Arena. “But I don’t care if I miss it or if I make it. I believe in myself.

“I really don’t care what people say on the outside or how many points I post in the fourth or what big players have done in the past.

“All I can do is worry about myself. I’ve got 100 percent confidence in myself that I can do it and when the fourth quarter comes around next time, I’m going to be as aggressive as I can.”

Talk centred on executing better down the stretch and keeping out of foul trouble as Oklahoma City enters Thursday’s game four down two games to one in the best-of-seven series.

“I thought they (Heat) made a few extra plays last night that we did not make, but I thought we played a very competitive game,” said Thunder coach Scott Brooks. “That game could have easily gone either way.”

Durant picked up his fourth foul in the third quarter, forcing Brooks to sit his star player during a crucial time of the game. Durant got called for a fifth foul in the final quarter but managed to finish out the game.

“Well, a few of them I didn’t think were fouls,” Durant said. “But that’s how the cards are dealt.

“I’ve just got to play my game, not worry about the officiating or what they do because they’re going to make mistakes.

“I can’t really concern myself with that. I’ve never been a guy that complains about it or gets mad at a ref for making a call, so I’ve got to play through it.”

The Thunder were one of the best free-throw shooting teams during the regular season but they shot just 62 percent from the line in game three.

“I don’t know, man,” Durant said. “We’ve just got to do a better job next game.

“We missed, 20-something in the last three games. We’re getting great opportunities.

“First game it didn’t really hurt us too much, but the last two hurt us pretty badly.”