Durant, Westbrook combine for 60 as Thunder beat Mavs in Game 3
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) celebrates a basket with teammate Dion Waiters during the second half in Game 3 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks Thursday, April 21, 2016, in Dallas. AP
DALLAS , Texas—Kevin Durant bounced back from the worst shooting game of his playoff career with 34 points and Oklahoma City retook control of its first-round series with a 131-102 victory over Dallas in Game 3 on Thursday night.
Durant had seven field goals midway through the second quarter on nine shots after he needed 33 to get there in a Game 2 loss that followed a 38-point win in the opener.
Article continues after this advertisementThe 2014 MVP scored 20 points in the first half, when the Thunder led by as many as 19 points on their way to a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Game 4 is Saturday night in Dallas.
Dirk Nowitzki played despite a right knee bruise and scored 16 points for the Mavericks, who missed 10 of their first 12 shots from 3-point range.
Article continues after this advertisementRussell Westbrook scored 20 of his 26 points in the second half and had 15 assists.