Then he found a way to take it right back.
Durant scored 30 points and hit a 3-pointer at the final buzzer to lift the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 104-102 win against Dallas on Thursday night in a rematch of last season’s Western Conference finals.
“As a kid, of course you dream about hitting a game-winning shot in the NBA,” said Durant, who has hit two other winners at the buzzer in his five seasons.
“It’s a dream come true.”
The Thunder let Dallas wipe away a five-point deficit in the final 46 seconds to go ahead on Vince Carter’s 3-pointer with 1.4 seconds remaining. That was just enough time for Thabo Sefolosha to get the ball to Durant, who drilled a 3 from the right wing that improved his team to 4-0.
“It was crazy, a crazy course of events,” Durant said. “When two tough teams always go at it, it always comes down to the last play.”
Dirk Nowitzki had 29 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Mavericks, whose title defense is off to an 0-3 start. Dallas had been blown out in its first two losses against Miami and Denver before letting this close one slip away.
“I think the more we go out and just play the game itself more, good things happen on the court,” Shawn Marion said.
“We’ve got to just go out there and stop worrying about other things and just go out there and just play the game and just play hard.”
Russell Westbrook had 16 points in his second straight subpar performance for the Thunder, but he made up for it with a few critical plays down the stretch.
He started the game with 3-for-11 shooting and seven turnovers before sitting longer than usual benching in favor of Eric Maynor. He returned when the game got close in the fourth quarter, providing a momentary lead with a two-handed breakaway dunk that turned into a three-point play.
