SEATTLE -- Kevin Durant sure did a lot right offensively.
His most impressive accomplishment came at the defensive end.
The 19-year-old rookie did a lot of scoring and a little of
everything else, matching his career high with 35 points as the
Seattle SuperSonics beat the Milwaukee Bucks 104-98 on Friday
night.
Durant knocked down pull-up jumpers in the face of Desmond Mason
in the closing minutes of a tight game. He battled against
Milwaukee's big frontline in the paint and earned his way to the
free throw line 16 times.
But his most impressive moment: blocking the quick-release shot
of Michael Redd.
"I wasn't planning on blocking it," Durant said.
Durant scored 24 points in the second half, to go along with
eight rebounds an assist and five blocked shots. He managed to
counterbalance Redd, who finished with a season-high 41 points,
including 25 in the second half.
The difference -- Durant got more help from his teammates. Five
Sonics finished in double figures and Seattle's bench outscored the
Bucks' reserves 30-12.
"This is the kind of player everyone anticipated coming into
this league," Milwaukee coach Larry Krystkowiak said.
Durant was most impressive in the fourth quarter, but wasn't
without assistance from Chris Wilcox, Earl Watson and Nick
Collison, all of whom added key scores in the final 8 minutes to
help Seattle win consecutive home games for the first time since
last March.
Equally dazzling was Redd. He and Durant each scored 18 points
in the fourth quarter, each with identical stat lines -- 4 of 7
shooting, 1 of 2 on 3-pointers, 9 of 10 at the free-throw line.
Redd made 12 of 24 shots, including four 3-pointers and was 13
of 14 at the line. Durant was 9 of 20 shooting, with two 3-pointers
and made 15 of 16 foul shots.
"I love that challenge and being put in that position," Redd
said. "Seattle was trying to play all kinds of funky defenses,
box-and-one's, and all kinds of crazy defenses. It didn't matter,
but at the end of the day, they got the win."
Redd made 12 of 24 shots, including four 3-pointers and was 13
of 14 at the line. Durant was 9 of 20 shooting, with two 3-pointers
and made 15 of 16 foul shots.
Andrew Bogut, Yi Jianlian and Mo Williams all added 13 for the
Bucks. Exhausted by his effort, Redd could only put his hands on
his knees after missing an open 5-footer with 14 seconds left that
was Milwaukee's last chance to complete a rally.
Milwaukee lost for the sixth time in its last seven games.
"We came to play, we just couldn't make shots and we couldn't
make stops when we needed them," Redd said.
Redd single-handedly brought the Bucks back even early in the
fourth quarter. He scored seven of Milwaukee's first nine
fourth-quarter points, capping his own mini run by shaking past
Durant at the top of the key and scoring a goaltended basket to tie
the game 77-all.
Durant didn't idly stand by. After Redd pulled the Bucks even,
Durant scored five straight, spinning in a tough baseline drive,
then pounding his chest after a deep 3-pointer.
But then Durant's teammates started chipping in. Durant scored
just one of Seattle's next eight points as the Sonics took a 90-84
lead with 3 minutes left.
The rookie then put a capper on the night, hitting consecutive
pull up jumpers over Mason to push the Sonics lead to eight, and
hit eight free throws in the final 2 minutes.
It was Durant's second 35-point effort, matching his total from
Nov. 30 against Indiana. Wilcox added 14 points -- 13 coming in the
first half -- and Watson, Collison and Wally Szczerbiak all scored
12. Wilcox finished with 13 rebounds and Kurt Thomas grabbed 11.
Seattle also outscored Milwaukee 34-22 at the free throw line.
"We're still learning ... but we're improving, which is a good
sign," Seattle coach P.J. Carlesimo said. "We still have a ways
to go."
Redd not only took over in the fourth quarter, but also was the
catalyst behind a third-quarter spurt that gave Milwaukee its first
lead since the opening moments. Redd hit consecutive 3's, and four
straight points by Williams gave the Bucks a 67-66 lead late in the
third quarter. But Seattle responded, closing the quarter on a 7-1
run, highlighted by Durant swooping in from the wing and slamming a
lob pass from Watson. The Sonics never trailed again.<
^Notes@: Bucks' F Bobby Simmons missed Friday's game after returning
to Milwaukee to attend to a personal matter. ... Seattle G Luke
Ridnour, who has missed the last 12 games with a left quadriceps
injury, went through pregame warmups but was again inactive.
Seattle was also without G Delonte West (right foot plantar
fasciitis).