OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Russell Westbrook scored 27 points and Kevin Durant added 26 to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 131-123 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night.
Enes Kanter added 23 while rookie Cameron Payne had a career-high 16 for the Thunder.
Westbrook and Durant both scored more than 20 points for the 25th time this season as Oklahoma City overcame an early eight-point deficit to win for the 11th time in its last 14 games.
Milwaukee jumped ahead on the outside shooting of Khris MIddleton and led by as many as eight in the first quarter before the Thunder went on a 7-0 run to end the period. Payne hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to pull Oklahoma City within 31-30.
Kanter led a run midway through the second period to give the Thunder (22-10) the lead for good, scoring back-to-back baskets to put them up by three and they expanded it to 11 at halftime, 65-54.
Oklahoma City expanded that lead to 77-60 before MIddleton brought his team back, scoring 12 of his career high 36 in the period to bring Milwaukee within two. Payne then scored four straight points and assisted on a basket by Kanter to help the Thunder maintain a 92-88 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Anthony Morrow hit consecutive threes in the opening two minutes of the final period to push the lead to 100-91 and Kanter scored 12 fourth quarter points to help preserve the lead.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 27 points for the Bucks, who lost on the road for the second consecutive game.
TIP-INS
Bucks: The Bucks are now 0-4 on Tuesdays. The only day other day of the week they've failed to win is Thursday, which is when they will play their next game.
Thunder: Payne was the backup point guard for the second straight game. After picking up two fouls in his first minute, the number one draft pick reached his career high with seven points in just six minutes in the second quarter.
CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME
The Thunder hit 37-of-40 from the free throw line, with Durant and Westbrook combining for 20-0f-21. Milwaukee hit just 15-of-22 form the stripe.
UP NEXT
Bucks: At the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night
Thunder: Host the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night
