DALLAS — Kevin Durant bounced back from the worst shooting game of his playoff career with 34 points and the Thunder retook control of its first-round series with a 131-102 victory over the Mavericks in Game 3 on Thursday night.
Durant had seven field goals midway through the second quarter on nine shots after he needed 33 to get there in a Game 2 loss that followed a 38-point win in the opener.
The 2014 MVP scored 20 in the first half, when the Thunder led by as many as 19 on its way to a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Mavs star Dirk Nowitzki played despite a right knee bruise and scored 16, but Dallas let Oklahoma City dictate the pace and couldn't keep up, never leading while missing 10 of its first 12 3-pointers. Wesley Matthews broke out of a shooting slump to lead Dallas with 22 points, hitting 3 of 7 from 3-point range.
Thunder guard Russell Westbrook scored 20 of his 26 in the second half, answering a couple of Dallas runs in the third quarter with two 3-pointers and some of his 15 assists, one off his playoff career high. The NBA leader in triple doubles during the regular season had an oddity with no rebounds.
Thunder 131, Mavericks 102
OKLAHOMA CITY (131): Durant 11-25 9-11 34, Ibaka 7-9 0-0 16, Adams 2-4 0-0 4, Westbrook 9-16 6-9 26, Roberson 1-1 2-2 5, Waiters 7-11 1-1 19, Collison 0-0 0-0 0, Kanter 6-7 8-10 21, Foye 1-3 0-0 3, Morrow 0-0 0-0 0, Payne 0-1 0-2 0, Huestis 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 45-78 26-35 131.
DALLAS (102): Matthews 6-13 7-10 22, Nowitzki 7-12 2-3 16, Pachulia 0-1 5-6 5, Felton 8-15 1-2 18, Barea 6-14 2-2 15, Lee 3-3 0-0 6, Harris 2-5 1-2 5, Mejri 0-1 0-2 0, Anderson 3-8 5-6 12, Villanueva 1-2 0-0 2, Powell 0-1 0-0 0, McGee 0-1 1-2 1. Totals 36-76 24-35 102.
Oklahoma City 27 31 39 34— 131
Dallas 21 27 30 24— 102
3-Point Goals—Oklahoma City 15-27 (Waiters 4-8, Durant 3-9, Ibaka 2-2, Westbrook 2-3, Kanter 1-1, Roberson 1-1, Huestis 1-1, Foye 1-2), Dallas 6-23 (Matthews 3-7, Felton 1-2, Barea 1-4, Anderson 1-4, Villanueva 0-1, Nowitzki 0-1, Powell 0-1, Harris 0-3). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Oklahoma City 51 (Kanter 8), Dallas 42 (Nowitzki, Pachulia 6). Assists—Oklahoma City 28 (Westbrook 15), Dallas 24 (Barea 7). Total Fouls—Oklahoma City 27, Dallas 27. Technicals—Adams, Felton. A—20,150 (19,200).
Raptors 101, Pacers 85: DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry each scored 21 as the visiting Raptors took a 2-1 series lead and reclaimed the home-court advantage they squandered by losing the series opener last weekend. Paul George led the Pacers with 25 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. DeRozan's early flurry spurred a 13-4 first-quarter run, which gave Toronto a 21-13 lead, and the Raptors never trailed again. "This is what I envisioned when I signed here,'' DeRozan said. "When this team starts clicking on all cylinders we're going to be scary."
Raptors 101, Pacers 85
TORONTO (101): Carroll 7-16 0-0 17, Scola 1-4 0-0 3, Valanciunas 3-8 3-3 9, Lowry 8-21 1-2 21, DeRozan 7-19 7-9 21, Biyombo 3-5 0-0 6, Patterson 2-7 2-2 7, Joseph 5-10 0-0 10, Ross 2-3 0-0 5, Powell 1-1 0-0 2, Wright 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 39-94 13-16 101.
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Explore all your optionsINDIANA (85): George 6-19 12-12 25, Allen 0-2 0-0 0, Mahinmi 3-5 1-4 7, G.Hill 3-7 5-6 13, Ellis 3-9 1-2 7, Stuckey 1-2 3-3 5, S.Hill 2-5 2-2 8, Turner 7-12 3-4 17, Lawson 0-1 0-0 0, Miles 0-3 0-0 0, J.Hill 0-0 0-0 0, Robinson III 0-1 0-0 0, Young 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 26-68 27-33 85.
Toronto 24 29 18 30— 101
Indiana 17 19 23 26— 85
3-Point Goals—Toronto 10-32 (Lowry 4-10, Carroll 3-9, Ross 1-2, Scola 1-3, Patterson 1-5, Joseph 0-1, DeRozan 0-2), Indiana 6-22 (S.Hill 2-3, G.Hill 2-4, Young 1-2, George 1-8, Ellis 0-2, Miles 0-3). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Toronto 55 (Valanciunas 14), Indiana 51 (George 10). Assists—Toronto 18 (Lowry 8), Indiana 16 (George 6). Total Fouls—Toronto 27, Indiana 18. Technicals—George, Stuckey, Turner. A—18,165 (18,165).
SILVER SAYS N.C. LAW AN ALL-STAR DEAL BREAKER: Commissioner Adam Silver believes the NBA has been "crystal clear" that the February 2017 All-Star Game will only stay in Charlotte if a North Carolina law that limits anti-discrimination protections for lesbian, gay and transgender people goes. Political and business leaders he's spoken with in the state believe it will, so he's holding off on setting deadlines for when the league might act. "We've been, I think, crystal clear a change in the law is necessary for us to play in the kind of environment that we think is appropriate for a celebratory NBA event," Silver said. "They know what's at stake in terms of the All-Star Game. But at least at the moment, constructive engagement on our part is the best way to go as opposed to putting a gun to their head and saying 'do this or else.' ''
AROUND THE LEAGUE: Warriors star Stephen Curry missed his second straight game with a sprained right ankle in Thursday night's late Game 3 against the Rockets. For the result, go to tampabay.com/sports. … Former Thunder coach Scott Brooks and the Wizards agreed on a $35 million, five-year coaching deal, his agent said. Brooks was 338-207 in seven years with Oklahoma City, helping develop Durant and Westbrook into perennial All-Stars. He was fired after last season and replaced by UF coach Billy Donovan. … Hawks backup point guard Dennis Schroder did not practice because of an injured left ankle and remains questionable for tonight.