Photo credit: Layne Murdoch

By Charlie O. Mallonee

Kevin Durant scored 30 points and Serge Ibaka added 20 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder downed the Sacramento Kings 108-93 on Sunday night. The Kings kept the game close in the first half, but the Thunder dominated the second half on the way to their 31^st win of the season.

The Kings were led by Isaiah Thomas who scored a career high 38 points on just 18 shots while dishing out 6 assist. Thomas scored on both dribble drives to the basket and on long field goals. He was 4 for 8 shooting 3-pointers.

DeMarcus Cousins posted another double-double. He scored 16 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Rudy Gay scored just six points in the contest. Gay was ejected from the game in the fourth quarter when he picked up two technical fouls for arguing with a referee.

There was positive news for the Kings on Sunday. Carl Landry, who had been sidelined for the entire season with left hip flexor muscle tear, saw his first live game action. Landry played eight minutes scoring six points and pulling down four rebounds. The Kings have needed another player who can play the post and that is Landry’s specialty. Expect to see more of him in New Orleans and Houston.

After the game, Kings Head Coach Michael Malone analyzed his teams’ play versus the Thunder. He felt the Kings committed too many turnovers (21). Oklahoma City scored 34 points off those turnovers. “We have to do a better job of valuing the basketball,” said Malone.

Malone mentioned how happy he was for Isaiah Thomas having such an outstanding game. “Isaiah got us off to a great start,” he said.

Coach Malone also said, “We’ll bounce back. We will now focus on New Orleans.” The Kings play the Pelicans on Tuesday in the “Big Easy”.

Malone told Landry to wear a uniform on Sunday. Malone seemed pleased to have another weapon on offense to throw at opposing teams.

Jimmer Fredette played only eight minutes versus the Thunder. Malone pointed out, “Jimmer did not see many minutes because Isaiah (Thomas) was hot!”