Washington, DC – Washington, DC (SportsNetwork.com) - John Wall supplied 17 points, 15 assists and six steals, as the Washington Wizards halted the Oklahoma City Thunder's 10-game win streak with a 96-81 triumph on Saturday at Verizon Center.
Trevor Ariza registered a team-high 18 points, Nene followed with 17, and Marcin Gortat tallied 14 points and 14 rebounds for the Wizards, who have won three of their last five games.
Kevin Durant was held under 30 points for the second straight game, finishing with 26 points, seven assists and five boards for the Thunder, who were held under 100 points for the first time since Jan. 14, the same day of their last loss, a 90-87 setback at Memphis.
"Just try to make him take tough shots," Ariza said when asked how his team was able to limit Durant's scoring. "Try not to give him no easy, easy looks."
A Derek Fisher 3-pointer found OKC within 58-57 with 4:21 left in the third, but the Wizards closed the quarter on a 20-7 burst to seize control of the contest.
Gortat and Ariza each scored six in the surge, which Wall capped with a buzzer-beating bucket that sent Washington into the final frame with a comfortable 78-64 cushion.
The Wizards cruised in the fourth, never allowing the visitors to get closer than 12 over the final 12 minutes.
Washington stifled Oklahoma City's vaunted offense in the first quarter, holding the Thunder to 27 percent shooting (6-of-22) from the floor and forcing 10 OKC turnovers to build a 25-13 lead after one.
"We started off the game with 10 turnovers in the first quarter," Oklahoma City head coach Scott Brooks said of the difference in the game. "We've been a lot better with the turnovers. Tonight it got away from us."
The margin remained double-digits for much of the second until Nick Collison's driving layup sparked a 14-0 Thunder spurt that Durant capped with a one- handed slam to bring the visitors within 35-34 with 2:32 left in the half.
However, Washington responded with a swift 7-2 swing before Durant's jumper trimmed OKC's deficit to 42-38 heading into halftime.
Wall's pullup jumper just over three minutes into the third pushed Washington's lead to nine, but Thabo Sefolosha scored all eight of his points in a 10-2 push that brought the Thunder within 55-54 just prior to the midpoint of the third quarter.
Game Notes
Durant had scored 30-plus points in 12 straight games before being held to 26 points in Friday's 120-95 win at Brooklyn ... OKC shot 39.7 percent (31-of-78) from the field, including 16.7 percent (4-of-24) from 3-point range ... Washington scored 23 points off 21 OKC turnovers ... Washington recorded 28 assists, compared to 19 from OKC ... The Thunder's 13 points in the first quarter were their fewest in an opening quarter since Feb. 15, 2012 versus the Rockets (13).
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.