NBA: Durant’s buzzer beater lifts Thunder over Mavs

Kevin Durant celebrates after making a 3-pointer to win the game against the Dallas Mavericks in the final seconds. Oklahoma City won 104-102. AP Photo/Alonzo Adams

OKLAHOMA CITY– Kevin Durant’s buzzer-beating three-pointer gave Oklahoma City a 104-102 NBA victory over Dallas on Thursday that left the reigning champion Mavericks without a win in three games this season.

Durant finished with 30 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka contributed 16 points apiece as the Thunder overcame 26 turnovers to improve to 4-0 in the lockout-shortened season that began on Sunday.

Dallas, who defeated the Thunder in last season’s Western Conference finals, fell to 0-3.

Dirk Nowitzki, the Most Valuable Player of the NBA finals as he led the Mavericks past Miami in the championship series in June, led Dallas with 29 points and 10 rebounds.

At times the Mavericks displayed the fluid offence that took them to their first league crown.

They erased a five-point deficit in the final minute, Nowitzki feeding Vince Carter for a three-pointer that gave Dallas a 102-101 lead with 1.4 seconds to play.

After a timeout, Oklahoma City inbounded to NBA scoring champion Durant, who drained the winning shot.