Thunder stretch win streak to 12 by downing Hawks

ATLANTA, Georgia (AFP) –

Kevin Durant (L) of the Oklahoma City Thunder during their game against the Atlanta Hawks on December 19, 2012. He scored 41 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and the Thunder stretched its NBA win streak to 12 games by defeating the Hawks 100-92.

Kevin Durant scored 41 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and the Oklahoma City Thunder stretched its NBA win streak to 12 games by defeating the Atlanta Hawks 100-92.

Durant hit 14-of-23 shots from the field and 9-of-10 from the free throw line on Wednesday while London Olympic gold medal teammate Russell Westbrook added 27 points and 11 assists for the Thunder, who improved to an NBA-best 21-4 overall.

Serge Ibaka, whose Spanish side lost to Durant and the Americans in the final for the second Olympics in a row, contributed 14 rebounds for Oklahoma City.

Jeff Teague led Atlanta with 19 points and 12 rebounds while Josh Smith added 17 points and nine assists and Zaza Pachulia had 10 rebounds for the Hawks, who fell to 15-8.

Oklahoma City led 55-41 at half-time but the host Hawks pulled within 73-66 entering the fourth quarter only to falter in the final minutes.