Video: Thunder's Kevin Durant throws down game-winning dunk to beat Pistons
Thunder forward Kevin Durant threw down a game-winning dunk to lift Oklahoma City to a 112-111 home victory over Detroit on Wednesday.
This game wound up being too close for comfort for the Thunder, but Durant came up big in the closing seconds.
With 18 seconds left and Detroit leading 111-110, Oklahoma City set up an inbounds play on the left sideline. Rather than hold the ball for the final shot, Durant received the ball and immediately took off for the hoop, turning the corner going left past Kyle Singler. Seeing nothing but daylight, Durant rose for a two-handed dunk, finishing the play over the top of a contesting effort from Greg Monroe, who couldn't get quite high enough to swat the ball.
''We just figured it out,'' Durant said, according to the Associated Press. ''We got it done. It wasn't the best game. We didn't play well defensively. We didn't shoot the ball well offensively. But there's something about just getting it done, having that willpower, having that fight in you, no matter what. It was a tough game, we persevered and we got a good win.''
A muddled sequence resulted in a jump ball on Detroit's final offensive possession, and Brandon Jennings was forced to heave up a prayer before the buzzer, which missed.
The nail-biting, one-point victory clinched the West's No. 2 seed for the Thunder, who will face the Grizzlies in their first-round playoff series.
Durant finished with a game-high 42 points (on 14-for-30 shooting), six assists and four rebounds, including 21 fourth-quarter points. Russell Westbrook added 22 points (on 5-for-15 shooting), eight assists, six rebounds and six steals for the Thunder.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope led the Pistons with a team-high 30 points (on 11-for-19 shooting) and six rebounds. Monroe and Andre Drummond each added 22 points in a losing effort.
Oklahoma City completed its season with a 59-23 record and the Northwest Division title. Detroit is headed to the lottery after going 29-53.
