OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- After a late-season stumble in Oklahoma City, Kobe Bryant was left looking ahead to better days: namely, the playoffs.
Kevin Durant scored 26 points, Russell Westbrook added 23 and the Thunder snapped the Los Angeles Lakers' seven-game winning streak with a resounding 91-75 victory Friday on a turnover-filled night for Bryant.
Bryant turned it over eight times as Oklahoma City built a 19-point lead by halftime, then proceeded to hold the West-leading Lakers to their lowest-scoring output of the season. ''It's disappointing we didn't respond to the challenge,'' Bryant said. ''That being said, when the playoffs start it's a different situation.''
The Thunder could end up being the Lakers' first-round opponent, although the outcome was a step toward avoiding that scenario. Oklahoma City needed the win to remain alone in sixth place ahead of San Antonio, which beat Cleveland on Friday night. The Lakers are firmly entrenched in the top spot.
The Thunder finished the third quarter with a 16-2 run, capped by back-to-back two-handed dunks by Nick Collison and Durant. Oklahoma City took a 33-point lead into the fourth quarter, but coach Scott Brooks put Durant and Westbrook back in the game after Los Angeles scored 10 straight points to open the period.
The victory ranked as one of the most impressive for the Thunder in just under two seasons in Oklahoma City, along with a 102-74 win against Orlando -- the team the Lakers beat in last year's finals -- earlier this season.
Westbrook had nine points as Oklahoma City built an early 19-7 lead, capitalizing on four turnovers by Bryant in the opening 7 minutes. And Bryant didn't fare much better after checking back in during the second quarter. He turned it over four more times and the Thunder closed the first half on an 11-4 run to go up 53-34 after Thabo Sefolosha's fast-break layup.
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