OKLAHOMA CITY -- With a towel wrapped tightly around his neck, Kevin Durant popped off the Oklahoma City Thunder bench, walking toward the table to check back in with eight minutes remaining in the fourth.
It was a different feeling for Durant, watching from the sideline as the Thunder extended a lead to open the fourth quarter. In the last month, it's been mostly the opposite, as Durant & Co. would re-enter for the final 10 minutes or so to try to make up lost ground. Three of the Thunder's last four losses featured early opposing runs to open the fourth as Durant and Russell Westbrook sat on the bench.