AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Oklahoma City Thunder is a month ahead of last season’s pace.

Kevin Durant scored 11 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter to lead Oklahoma City to a 91-83 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Friday night.

“We showed some toughness on the road against a playoff team and passed a big test,” Durant said.

The franchise is 2-0 for the first time since the 2003-04 season, when it was in Seattle.

The Thunder began 1-16 last season, its first in Oklahoma City, and didn’t get its second victory until Nov. 29.

“It is a big win, to go into one of the best arenas in the league and win their home opener,” OKC coach Scott Brooks said.

Ben Gordon had 25 points in his home debut for Detroit. Former Eastern Washington and Kentwood standout Rodney Stuckey scored 21, but he had just two assists.

Durant made go-ahead free throws late in the third quarter and kept Oklahoma City ahead in the fourth with an array of shots such as a dunk, fadeaway and 3-pointer.

Jeff Green added 16 points for Oklahoma City.

1 LESS THAN INVINCIBLE The Orlando Magic’s Vince Carter sprained his left ankle during the second quarter Friday and left the game against the New Jersey Nets after scoring 16 points.

2 KEEPING THEIR BABY The Boston Celtics elected not to suspend forward Glen “Big Baby” Davis after a fight with a friend left him sidelined for at least five weeks with a broken right thumb.

3 HAMILTON HURTING Detroit Pistons guard Richard Hamilton will miss at least two games because of a sprained right ankle. He was injured Wednesday after scoring 25 points in a win at Memphis.

4 STEP ASIDE, SHAQ Twenty-three-year-old Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith passed Shaquille O’Neal to become the youngest in NBA history to block 900 shots. O’Neal was 24 when he did it.