Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant drives around Milwaukee Bucks guard Jared DudleySue Ogrocki/The Associated Press
Kevin Durant is taking nothing for granted these days.
The reigning MVP missed the first 17 games this season with a broken bone in his right foot, and then played three road games before making his home debut Tuesday night. He got a rousing welcome back from the crowd, and scored 23 points to help the Thunder to a 114-101 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.
"Just to play here is a blessing," he said. "I've been saying that for a while, but to be out for so long and finally get a chance to play in front of our home crowd – I felt good getting my name called in the starting lineup."
Durant was 7 for 11 from the field and 8 for 8 at the line. He also had nine rebounds and seven assists in 29 minutes.
Russell Westbrook scored 28 points for the Thunder, who have won five of six after starting the season with a 3-12 record.
"We're still trying to work some things out," Durant said. "You know, I'm sure a lot of people are expecting us to be back to playoff-type of basketball right now, but we're just like any other team, just trying to continue to just build and keep getting better."
O.J. Mayo had 18 points and Giannis Antetokounmpo added 17 for the Bucks, who have lost five of six.
"We let those guys get in the lane, get in our paint, and we fouled a lot tonight," Mayo said.
Durant missed his first two shots, but drained his third, a 3-pointer with 8:08 left in the first quarter. He took a break after scoring seven points in the first 4:51.
Westbrook's powerful one-handed putback on a missed 3-pointer by Reggie Jackson put the Thunder up 61-52 at halftime. Oklahoma City shot 60 per cent in the second quarter after a sluggish first.
Durant gave the fans another thrill early in the fourth quarter. He pulled in a defensive rebound, brought the ball up court and then used a pick by Kendrick Perkins to get free for an easy two-handed slam that gave the Thunder a 93-82 lead.
Durant added a jumper and a no-look bounce pass to Serge Ibaka for a dunk that gave the Thunder a 103-88 lead. Durant left for good with 3:36 remaining and the Thunder holding a 109-90 lead.
"He's getting back into rhythm," Westbrook said. "He's getting back in the swing of things."
TRAIL BLAZERS 98, PISTONS 86
AUBURN HILLS – LaMarcus Aldridge had 23 points and 11 rebounds, Wesley Matthews scored 19 points, and Portland earned its fifth straight victory.
Detroit lost its 13th in a row, one short of the franchise record set in 1979-80 and tied in 1993-94. Those were both aging teams, with the second group marking the end of the Bad Boys era at the Palace. The current Pistons haven't had a winning season or won a playoff game in seven years.
Greg Monroe had 22 points and 10 rebounds for Detroit, which only got 40 points from its starting lineup.
JAZZ 100, SPURS 96
SALT LAKE CITY – Derrick Favours scored 21 points, Gordon Hayward added 20 and Utah snapped a nine-game losing streak.
Enes Kanter added 12 points and 15 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season, while Alec Burks chipped in 14 points for Utah, which lost all four games against the Spurs last season.
Tim Duncan had 23 points and 13 rebounds for San Antonio. Kawhi Leonard added 16 points for the Spurs, who played without starting point guard Tony Parker.
Utah outrebounded San Antonio 43-37, although the Spurs had a 62-50 advantage in points in the paint.
PELICANS 104, KNICKS 93
NEW ORLEANS – Tyreke Evans scored 27 points, Anthony Davis had 18 and the Pelicans handed the reeling Knicks their ninth straight loss.
Omer Asik had 16 points and 14 rebounds, and Jrue Holiday scored 13 points for New Orleans, which won its second straight to pull back to .500 at 10-10.
Amare Stoudemire scored a season-high 26 points and Carmelo Anthony had 17 for New York, which kept the game close into the fourth quarter before fading down the stretch, as the Knicks have done often this season.
Pablo Prigioni scored 17 for the Knicks, who fell to 4-19 with what was also their 10th straight road loss.
HEAT 103, SUNS 97
PHOENIX – Chris Bosh scored 10 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter, including seven straight down the stretch, and Miami snapped a four-game losing streak.
Luol Deng scored 23 points and Dwyane Wade added 16 for the Heat.
Miami has won nine straight against the Suns, and eight straight in Phoenix.
Marcus Morris scored a career-high 25 points for Phoenix on 10-of-13 shooting. Gerald Green added 19 points, including five 3-pointers, and Markieff Morris had 17.
Phoenix has lost three straight.
LAKERS 98, KINGS 95
LOS ANGELES – Kobe Bryant scored nine of his 32 points in the final 3:14, leading the Lakers' fourth-quarter comeback.
Carlos Boozer added 15 points for the Lakers, who snapped their three-game skid by rallying from a 12-point deficit in the second half.
After Bryant tied it at 92 with a breakaway dunk and a clutch 3-pointer, Jordan Hill's layup on a sharp pass from Bryant put the Lakers ahead 94-93 with 1:39 to play.
The Kings went back in front on a driving layup by Darren Collison, but Bryant hit two free throws for the lead with 34 seconds left before Rudy Gay missed an open 3-pointer for Sacramento, which has lost six of eight.