OKLAHOMA CITY – Three-time NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant is determined to become known as more than a one-dimensional player.
He took a big step in that direction Sunday night.
Durant notched his first career triple-double with 25 points, 13 rebounds and a career-high 10 assists, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Golden State Warriors, 119-109.
“I really didn’t care, to be honest. If it came, then that’s cool. If it didn’t, then just keep playing,” Durant said. “It feels good to get one. Now, I guess I’ve got a little monkey off my back. I can just go out there and play.”
Durant has endured some growing pains this season trying to improve his floor game, with a bump in his assist numbers coinciding with an increase in his turnovers, too.
He came in averaging four turnovers per game, the fourth-worst in the league.
But after ending up with more turnovers than assists in each of his first five NBA seasons, Durant is starting to reverse that trend this season. He’s also grabbing about two more rebounds per game than at any other time in his pro career.
“There’s going to be nights where I have to score 30. There’s going to be nights where I have to have seven or eight assists,” Durant said. “So, I’m just trying to be an all-around player and just continue to help my team win.”
Durant turned it over twice in this one and pumped his right fist after he set up Kevin Martin’s 3-pointer with 4:57 to play for his 10th assist. The play also helped the Thunder hold on after Golden State cut a 21-point deficit to seven in the fourth quarter.
“Some guys can just pass, some guys can just shoot, some guys can just rebound,” coach Scott Brooks said. “Obviously, with Kevin, he can do many things on the floor and we always have to challenge him because we don’t know how good he will end up being.”
Russell Westbrook scored 30 points and Martin had 23 off the bench as Oklahoma City had a season-high 31 assists for the second consecutive game and a season high in points.
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