Miami: At Philadelphia

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The drama was sapped early from Oklahoma Citys blowout win over Utah, except for one detail. Nike Free Shoes Uk . Thunder forward Kevin Durant is nearing Michael Jordans mark for consecutive games with at least 25 points. With the crowd buzzing late in the third quarter, Durant reached the mark for the 38th consecutive time, leaving him two games short of Jordans accomplishment, which is the most in the past 50 years. He finished with 31 points and nine assists to help Oklahoma City defeat the Jazz 116-96 on Sunday afternoon. Jordan did it for 40 straight games for the Chicago Bulls during the 1986-87 season. Durant is aware of the mark, but the NBAs leading scorer left worrying about it to the crowd at Chesapeake Energy Arena. "Im just going out there, playing my game," he said. "If it happens, cool. If it doesnt, cool. Thats how I approach it -- just playing within the offence. If a shots there, shoot it. If a pass is there, pass it. I try to play as simple as I can. If that (25 points or more) comes with it, then so be it, but if not, Im not going to lose any sleep." Durant was fouled on a 3-pointer with 4:02 left in the third quarter and was awarded three free throws. He scored his 24th point on the first one, and the crowd got into it before the second one. After he made it, the fans let out a loud cheer. He also made the third to give the Thunder an 84-56 lead. Durant extended the streak without playing in the fourth quarter for the second consecutive game. Russell Westbrook scored 19 points, Serge Ibaka had 17 points and Caron Butler added 15 for the Thunder, who have won six of seven. Oklahoma City shot 55 per cent from the field and made 11 of 18 3-pointers and 23 of 26 free throws. Enes Kanter had 18 points and 12 rebounds, Richard Jefferson scored 17 points and Gordon Hayward added 16 points and nine rebounds for the Jazz, who have lost four in a row. Utah trailed 11-0 before Jefferson finally scored with 7:34 left in the first quarter. Oklahoma City led 26-9 at the end of the quarter. It matched the fewest points the Thunder have allowed in any quarter this season and was the lowest for the Jazz in a first quarter this season. Utah missed the NBA low for an opening quarter this season by making a basket with 19.5 seconds left. "They were aggressive on the defensive end and we settled for a lot of jump shots," Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said. "We missed jump shots and they were able to run the ball out on us. In that first quarter, I thought we were hungry for it, but thats what good teams do. They come out and try to bury you right from the beginning. They had a lot of success doing it in the first quarter." Haywards first basket came with 3:21 left in the first half. Even with his 3-point play, the Jazz still trailed 49-30. Oklahoma City led 59-40 at halftime, and it might have been a larger lead if Jefferson hadnt dropped in 15 points in the first half, well above his season average of 10.2 points per game. Durant scored 18 points in the first half on 6-for-8 shooting and helped the Thunder shoot 57 per cent before the break. Utah cut Oklahoma Citys lead to 89-77 late in the quarter before Durant hit a 3-pointer over Hayward with two seconds remaining to push the lead back up to 15 points. "That was tough," Utah forward Marvin Williams said. "That was a big three. It almost took the wind out of your sails, to fight so hard to get back to that position, to cut it to 12, thinking youre going to start the fourth at 12 (down), and he makes an amazing shot like that over a defender. It was a big shot. It kind of took the wind out of our sails, almost, a little bit, because we had fought so hard." Hayward scored 13 points in the period, and the Jazz scored 37 points on 60 per cent shooting. Utah scored 21 points in the final 3:44 of the third. The Thunder held on, and now, Oklahoma City can look ahead to Thursdays showdown with West leader San Antonio. The Spurs have won 17 in a row and are three games ahead of the Thunder for the best record in the West with nine games to go. "Just continue to play our brand of basketball," Butler said. "Play with a lot of energy and effort and do a good job defensively and stay on the same accord, and we will be fine." NOTES: Thunder G Reggie Jackson missed his second straight game with a mid-back sprain. ... Jazz G Alec Burks returned to action after missing the previous four games with a left ankle sprain. ... Utah missed its first seven shots. ... Oklahoma City won three of four against the Jazz this season. ... Utah, which has the worst record in the Western Conference, won the previous meeting 112-101. Nike Free Clearance Online .ca NHL Power Rankings, ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues and Anaheim Ducks. Moving up, from 10 to seven this week, the Pittsburgh Penguins have won seven straight despite a depleted lineup. Nike Free Cheap Online . The matchup will be made up in Minnesota at a later date. The arena was evacuated about 45 minutes before the scheduled 9:30 p.m. EST tipoff when a generator malfunction outside the arena sent smoke pouring into the building, according to NBA spokeswoman Sharon Lima. http://www.nikefreeuk.com/ . "For the past several weeks, Logan has been dealing and playing with an upper body injury," said general manager Doug Wilson in a statement. "Despite his efforts to play through it, the injury has not responded as we had hoped and Logan has made the decision to undergo a surgical procedure to repair the problem.MIAMI -- Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals are playing well at the right time. Strasburg pitched seven strong innings to help the NL-leading Washington Nationals to a 2-1 win over the Miami Marlins on Sunday for a four-game sweep. "Just have to keep the train rolling," Strasburg said. Nate Schierholtz and Anthony Rendon drove in runs for the Nationals (91-64), who completed an 11-game road trip 9-2 and lead the Los Angeles Dodgers (89-67) for the best record in the National League. "Really important, a good road trip for us against some teams that has been playing well especially here in a place where they play very good at home," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "We won some close ones and pitching was good, that certainly will keep you in any ballgame. You have those guys toe the rubber every day, youve got a chance. We did enough to win, which is good." Strasburg (13-11) allowed three hits and two walks. He struck out five while throwing 55 of his 84 pitches for strikes. He is 3-1 with a 1.34 ERA over his last five starts. "The way he is throwing right now, thats the way that everybody wants to see him," said Nationals catcher Jose Lobaton. Rafael Soriano got through the ninth for his 32nd save in 39 chances. Marlins pinch-hitter Reed Johnson led off the ninth with a double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Donovan Solano to cut the deficit to 2-1. Casey McGehee lined out to a sliding Bryce Harper in left field to end the game. "You look at that pitching staff over there and its the best pitching staff in the National League," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "Those guys keep coming and it probably doesnt matter what lineup they throw out there, with that pitching they have the ability to shut you down. Nike Free Shoes On Sale. " The Nationals scored in the fifth off Nathan Eovaldi (6-13). Lobaton led off the inning with a double and scored on Schierholtzs triple to centre field. Rendon followed with an RBI single. Eovaldi allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings. "I just wanted to eliminate those big innings today and not make those big mistakes," Eovaldi said. The Marlins had four hits and have lost five of six. TRAINERS ROOM Marlins: CF Marcell Ozuna sprained his right ankle running into second base in the seventh inning and left the game. Ozuna attempted to reach second after his hit was bobbled by left fielder Kevin Frandsen. Ozuna went into the base without sliding and hit the bag awkwardly before tumbling and was tagged out. He was helped off the field without putting any pressure on his ankle. X-rays were negative. "Thats another tough blow for us," Redmond said. "We really dont have a timetable for him. Well see how it progresses over the next couple of days." UP NEXT Both teams are off on Monday before their final seven games of the regular season. Washington: Hosts the New York Mets for a three-game series beginning on Tuesday with RHP Tanner Roark (14-10, 2.85) on the mound against Mets RHP Bartolo Colon (14-12, 4.02). Miami: At Philadelphia. RHP Henderson Alvarez (11-6, 2.82) faces Phillies LHP Cole Hamels (9-7, 2.47). HEANEY EFFECT Marlins top pitching prospect LHP Andrew Heaney retired nine of the 10 batters he faced to end the game. It was Heaneys second appearance out of the bullpen after making four starts earlier in the season. TRIPLES IN BUNCHES Schierholtzs triple was the Nationals fifth in the last three games. They recorded five in their previous 56 games. ' ' '