National Basketball Association

Durant, Thunder pull away to beat Suns 122-106

Published Feb. 9, 2016 1:05 a.m. ET

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PHOENIX (AP) Kevin Durant scored 25 of his 32 points in the second half and Oklahoma City pulled away in the final four minutes to hand the Phoenix Suns their eighth consecutive loss, 122-106 on Monday night.

The Suns, losers of 23 of their last 25 games, were in it most of the way and led by as many as six late in the third quarter. But Durant sank two 3-pointers in a 16-4 Oklahoma City run to finish the game.

Russell Westbrook added 29 points for the Thunder, who were coming off a 116-108 loss at Golden State on Saturday night.

Markieff Morris scored 23 points for Phoenix, and Archie Goodwin had 20. Mirza Teletovic added 17 points, including 14 in the second quarter when the Suns scored on their first 15 possessions.

Teletovic's fourth 3-pointer started a 7-0 spurt that gave Phoenix its biggest lead, 81-75 on Devin Booker's bank shot with 2:38 left in the third quarter. Booker's behind-the-back pass to P.J. Tucker for a fast-break layup put the Suns ahead 89-85 with 1:19 left in the quarter.

The Thunder went ahead for good with a 17-1 run at the end of the third quarter and beginning of the fourth, taking a 99-88 lead with 8:48 to play.

The Suns managed one more spurt. Goodwin's two free throws cut the Thunder lead to 106-102 with 4:18 to play.

Then Durant and Westbrook closed it out. Durant had two 3s in the final run, the last from 26 feet to make it 120-106 with 1:30 to go.

The Suns used a 38-point second quarter to forge a surprising 57-57 tie at the half.

Early in the game, it looked as if the Thunder would pull away quickly. A 14-2 run put Oklahoma City up 24-12 on Westbrook's fadeaway bank shot with 3:38 left in the first quarter.

Phoenix trailed 28-19 at the end of one, and then reserves Teletovic and Alex Len powered the Suns' rally. Phoenix finally caught up when Tucker hit Tyson Chandler for a layup to make it 54-54 with 1:25 left in the half.

TIP-INS

Thunder: Durant missed seven of his first eight shots in the third quarter. ... Oklahoma City didn't shoot a free throw until Westbrook went to the line with 2:32 left in the first half. ... Durant hasn't scored fewer than 20 points since Nov. 10 at Washington, a span of 38 games.

Suns: Booker was 1-for-8 shooting, scored six points and fouled out with 7:10 to play. ... Phoenix signed guard Jordan McRae to another 10-day contract. ... The Suns were 17 of 21 at the line in the first half to the Thunder's 5 of 6.

UP NEXT

Thunder: Host New Orleans on Thursday night.

Suns: Host Golden State on Wednesday night.