Durant’s 31 points lift Thunder over Jazz

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) shoots as Utah Jazz center Enes Kanter (0) defends in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Sunday, March 30, 2014. AP

OKLAHOMA CITY — Kevin Durant continued his torrid scoring pace, pouring in 31 points on Sunday in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 116-96 NBA triumph over the Utah Jazz.

Russell Westbrook added 19 points and Serge Ibaka chipped in 17 points with six rebounds for the Thunder, who have won six of their last seven games.

Caron Butler contributed 15 points off the bench, going 5-for-5 from three-point range, and the Thunder clamped down on defense early to keep the Jazz in check.

The Thunder scored the first 11 points of the game and held the Jazz to 4-for-21 shooting from the floor in the first quarter. The hosts led 26-9 after the opening period.

“The defense really set the tone in the first quarter. Nine points, that’s hard to do. That set the tempo right there,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said.

Durant posted his 38th straight game with at least 25 points and is closing in on a milestone streak.

Michael Jordan’s 40 successive games with 25 points or more, achieved with the Chicago Bulls in the 1986-87 season, is the longest in the NBA’s modern era.

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