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NBA

NBA Game Summary - Seattle At Golden State

POSTED: 11:08 pm PDT April 16, 2008

(Sports Network) - Kevin Durant solidified his case for Rookie of the Year honors by erupting for a career-high 42 points on 18-of-25 shooting from the floor, as the Seattle SuperSonics upended the Golden State Warriors, 126-121, in the teams' season finale.

Durant also brought down 13 rebounds for his first career double-double, as Seattle (20-62) ended the season on a two-game winning streak.

"We ended the season very well against two playoff caliber teams," Durant said. "Through the all-star break, guys played hard, and it's a great way to build going into next year. This off season is going to be key for us, as far as everybody getting better. This summer is a big summer to see where we end up."

Fellow rookie Jeff Green added 27 points and 10 rebounds, and Nick Collison contributed 16 and 13 to help break the Sonics' 12-game road losing streak. Earl Watson finished with 17 points and 12 assists.

The Sonics, who have been in Seattle for 40 years, are rumored to be moving to Oklahoma City, as the team's ownership group is willing to relocate the franchise should it not reach a lease agreement on a new Seattle arena.

Golden State (48-34), which was already eliminated from the playoff race earlier in the week, received 24 points from Monta Ellis and 20 points and 17 rebounds from Andris Biedrins. Baron Davis scored 21 and doled out seven assists.

Marco Belinelli scored 17 off the bench for the Warriors, who had won their previous four matchups against the Sonics.

The Warriors chipped away at the Sonics' lead in the latter half of the fourth, getting to the free throw line frequently and holding their opposition on the defensive end. A Davis runner got the Warriors within 110-106 with 4:08 to play.

A minute later, back-to-back three-pointers by Watson and Durant gave the Sonics a 120-108 lead, and although Ellis made it a three-point game on a field goal with under a minute left, Seattle made its final six free throws to come away victorious.

Trailing 19-14 midway through the first, Durant hit a layup and threw down a dunk to spark 12 straight Sonics points, and Seattle took a 35-24 lead after 12 minutes of play.

The Warriors drained seven three-pointers in the second quarter, including three from Mickael Pietrus, but the Sonics held on and maintained a 68-60 lead at the break.

The Sonics continued to play ahead behind solid inside play from Collison, and Durant extended the margin on an array of jumpers and drives to the bucket late in the third.

The rookie phenom scored six late points and Seattle brought a 95-80 advantage into the fourth.

In the final quarter, Ellis and Belinelli combined to score nine quick points for Golden State, the last of which cut the Warriors' deficit to 10 with 9 1/2 minutes to play.

Game Notes:

The Warriors finished 27-14 at home, while the Sonics ended 7-34 on the road...On Tuesday, the Seattle Times reported that former SuperSonics owner Howard Schultz is planning to sue the current ownership to get the team back, on the basis that the new owners violated the sale contract by not making a good-faith effort to keep the team in Seattle...With a win Wednesday, the Warriors could have tied the 1971-72 Suns for the best record among teams who did not qualify for the playoffs...Damien Wilkins tallied 10 points for Seattle, while Pietrus and Stephen Jackson netted 11 apiece for Golden State.

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