LeBron's record-setting stretch inspires Durant to raise his game to even higher level

14fe040a-APTOPIX Trail Blazers Heat Basketball

Miami Heat's LeBron James (6) high-fives teammate Dwyane Wade (3) as they head to the bench for a timeout during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Miami, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. James became the first player in NBA history to score 30 points and shoot at least 60 percent in six straight games as the Heat defeated the Trail Blazers 117-104. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz) (The Associated Press)

Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant (35) lays the ball up in the second quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) (The Associated Press)

OKLAHOMA CITY – LeBron James is playing at a record-setting level, and that only makes Kevin Durant want to get better at his own game.

Heading into the All-Star break, James is making the race for league MVP a one-man contest. He has grabbed all the headlines by logging an NBA record six straight games with at least 30 points while shooting 60 percent or better.

By comparison, the three-time NBA scoring champion Durant has hit both of those marks just five times all season.

Durant says he's always trying to raise the bar on his own level of play, and James only provides more inspiration for him to get better. The two top vote-getters in last season's MVP balloting will play Thursday night when Durant's Oklahoma City Thunder host James' Miami Heat.