Thunder hold off Smith, Knicks as Anthony sits

Oklahoma City pulls out a one-point victory over dogged NY side, 95-94

The Kevin Durant-Carmelo Anthony duel was postponed, though J.R. Smith filled in nicely - for three quarters.

The Oklahoma City Thunder finally silenced the Knicks' streaky shooter in the fourth, hanging on to beat New York 95-94 on Thursday night when Smith missed a turnaround jumper just before the buzzer.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, center, flips the ball towards the basket over New York Knicks' Jason Kidd, left, and Kenyon Martin during the third quarter of their game in New York on Thursday. The Thunder won 95-94. [Mike Segar / Reuters]

"We've been hurt on those game-winners a couple of times this year and we didn't want that to happen again," Durant said. "So we just had to lock in and get a stop."

Durant scored 34 points, including two free throws with 1:38 left that put Oklahoma City in front for good. He also had eight rebounds and six assists.

Russell Westbrook struggled over the final three quarters but finished with 21 points, six rebounds and five assists, plus provided tough defense on Smith's last shot in the Thunder's first trip to New York since Dec 22, 2010.

Kevin Martin had 16 points as Oklahoma City posted its third straight win, fighting off a spirited effort by a Knicks team missing Anthony. The All-Star forward missed his second straight game with what the Knicks said is a stiff and sore right knee.

"It was a great fight. I mean we put up a heck of a fight out there tonight," Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire said. "We played great defensively, offensively we were playing well, the ball was moving, so we can be happy with the way we played but still a little upset that we lost down the stretch."

Smith scored a season-high 36 points but was just 2 of 9 from the field in the final period, 1 of 5 on 3-pointers. He said afterward he probably should've tried to drive on the last possession.

"My jumper was pretty much good all night except for the fourth quarter and just didn't go in," Smith said.

Neither team led by more than two points over the final 10 minutes. Durant scored 12 in the final period while Westbrook was shut out.

Smith missed a 3-pointer with 33 seconds left but the Knicks had a final chance after Durant was off on a jumper with about nine seconds to go. Smith got the ball in about the same spot where he hit a winning jumper against Phoenix earlier this season, but his shot was long as the Knicks had their two game-winning streak snapped.

Anthony was hurt on Monday in Cleveland, falling to the court without contact as he tried to catch a pass. Coach Mike Woodson said he is day to day and doesn't believe the injury is serious, but the Knicks said the same about Jeremy Lin last season and others in recent years, so their fans won't relax until they see Anthony back on the floor.