Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant, center, is restrained by Philadelphia 76ers' Andre Iguodala (9) to keep him from Evan Turner (12) during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012, in Philadelphia.
Alex Brandon, Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA — Kevin Durant scored eight of his 23 points down the stretch to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 92-88 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night.
Russell Westbrook had 22 points and 13 rebounds and James Harden added 16 points as the NBA-leading Thunder overcame a seven-point deficit in the fourth quarter and won their sixth straight game.
Andre Iguodala and Jrue Holiday each had 18 points for the Atlantic Division-leading 76ers, who beat Detroit on Tuesday night to snap a five-game losing streak.
Coming off his MVP performance in the All-Star game, Durant struggled a bit. The two-time scoring champion shot 7 of 18. But he made key baskets and free throws and added a clutch steal late in the game.
Sixers coach Doug Collins was back on the bench after watching the fourth quarter of the 97-68 win at Detroit from the locker room because he was dizzy. Collins said he felt great and that the dizziness was caused by dehydration.
For a while, it seemed the Sixers were going to give Collins another reason to feel better.
Following a timeout by the Thunder, Iguodala's steal led to a jumper by Holiday that put Philadelphia up 84-77 with 5:31 remaining.
But the Sixers missed their next 10 shots and Oklahoma City took advantage.
Durant hit a jumper and 3-pointer. His free throw with 3:20 left tied it at 85.
Serge Ibaka put the Thunder up 87-85 on a pair of free throws with 1:53 remaining. A free throw by Kendrick Perkins made it 88-85. After Lou Williams missed a 3-pointer, Perkins missed two free throws with 20.4 seconds to go. But Durant's steal at the other end and a free throw put the Thunder up 89-85.
Iguodala hit a 3-pointer with 4.9 seconds to go to get Philadelphia within one. But Durant made a free throw and then Westbrook made two to seal it after getting a rebound off Durant's miss.
The Thunder were the West's No. 4 playoff seed last season when they fell two wins short of reaching the NBA finals. They're aiming to win a championship this season and are ahead of the pack in a tough conference.
Despite losing six of seven, the upstart Sixers are still the front-runners in their division.
The Sixers used a 10-0 run to take their biggest lead, 63-55, in the third quarter. Jodie Meeks followed a thunderous slam by Iguodala with a fast-break layup to cap the run. Daequan Cook ended it with a 3-pointer and the Thunder cut the deficit to 67-63 after three quarters.
Durant and Philadelphia's Evan Turner drew technicals and had to be separated after a mini-scuffle in the final minute of the first half. Durant heard loud boos when he got the ball on the next possession, but he silenced the crowd with a 3-pointer that gave the Thunder a 53-48 lead going into halftime.
Notes: Sixers center Spencer Hawes missed his 11th straight game because of a strained left Achilles. The Sixers are 12-2 with the 7-footer in the lineup, 9-13 without him. ... Former Sixers coach and All-Star guard Maurice Cheeks, an assistant with the Thunder, got a standing ovation when he was shown on the video screen in the second quarter. ... The Thunder are 13-6 on the road, 15-1 at home. ... Perkins earned his 12th technical foul in the fourth quarter. He's one away from a one-game suspension.
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