OKLAHOMA CITY — Kevin Durant scored 18 of his 36 points in a scintillating final seven minutes, Serge Ibaka added a career-high 26 points and Oklahoma City evened the Western Conference finals at two games apiece by beating San Antonio 109-103 Saturday night.
After seeing his team’s 15-point lead dwindle to four, Durant took over midway through the fourth quarter by scoring all 16 of the Thunder’s points during a span of just over five minutes to keep the Spurs at bay.
“My teammates just did a great job,” Durant said. “In the fourth quarter they made great screens and made great passes.”
With all-star teammate Russell Westbrook limited to seven points, Durant did almost all of the damage late to send the series back to San Antonio all square for Game 5 on Monday night.
The three-time scoring champion hit three straight jumpers, the last one coming after he bumped into Tony Parker in the lane to draw a foul and set up a three-point play. Then he attacked the rim for his next three baskets, getting to the line again when he was fouled on a layup off of James Harden’s alley-oop.
Durant hit another jumper after coming off a Westbrook screen for the last basket in his personal run — and the Spurs were still within striking distance. Rookie Kawhi Leonard bracketed a pair of 3-pointers around that Durant jumper, and the Spurs were only down 102-96 with 1:24 left.
The Spurs succeeded in getting the ball out of Durant’s hands on the next possession, only for him to provide the assist on Harden’s 3-pointer from the left wing that bumped the lead to nine.
Durant hit two free throws in the final minute to help close it out.
Tim Duncan had 21 points for San Antonio. Leonard added 17 points and nine rebounds.
The Spurs were within four after Duncan’s left-handed runner with 6:55 left in the game. That’s when Thunder coach Scott Brooks called a timeout, and Durant came out of it firing away. He made seven of his last eight shots and also finished with eight assists and six rebounds.
Ibaka made all 11 of his shots — and all four of his free throws — to lead a strong performance from Oklahoma City’s frontcourt.
Ibaka, starting center Kendrick Perkins and reserve Nick Collison combined to go 22 for 25 from the field for 49 points.
