Durant drops in 51, Westbrook 40 as Thunder beats Nuggets in OT

Feb 20, 2012, 5:08 GMT

Los Angeles - Kevin Durant exploded for a career-high and NBA season-best 51 points, Russell Westbrook added 40 and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the visiting Denver Nuggets 124-118 in overtime.

The two All-Stars on Sunday became the first duo to score 40 or more points in the same game since Chicago's Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen turned the trick in 1996.

Serge Ibaka recorded his first career triple double, finishing with 14 points, 15 rebounds and 11 blocked shots for the Thunder, which improved its Western Conference-leading record to 24-7, including 12-1 at home.

Arron Afflalo netted 27 points for the Nuggets, who have dropped three in a row.

Jeremy Lin had 28 points with a career-high 14 assists, newly signed JR Smith scored 15 in his New York debut and the Knicks rallied from 12 down in the second half to beat the visiting Dallas Mavericks 104-97 for their eighth win in the past nine games.

Germany's Dirk Nowitzki scored a season-high 34 points for the reigning NBA Champion Mavericks, whose season-high, six-game winning streak came to halt.

Dwyane Wade scored 27 points, and LeBron James had 23 points with 11 rebounds and eight assists, carrying the Miami Heat to its sixth-straight victory 90-78 over the visiting Orlando Magic.

Elsewhere, the Phoenix Suns cruised past the visiting LA Lakers 102-90; the Cleveland Cavaliers slipped past the visiting Sacramento Kings 93-92; the Detroit Pistons bounced the visiting Boston Celtics 96-81; and the visiting Milwaukee Bucks clipped the New Jersey Nets 92-85.

The Minnesota Timberwolves edged the visiting Philadelphia 76ers 92-91; the Houston Rockets held off the visiting Utah Jazz 101-85; and the Indiana Pacers punished the Charlotte Bobcats 108-73.