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OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters) – The Oklahoma City Thunder secured a blot in the NBA playoffs on Sun with a testing 99-90 get over sectionalization rivals Portland.

The Thunder went on a deciding 17-8 run over the test 6:18 of the fourth quarter led by writer Westbrook, who scored 11 of his 28 points in the blitz.

"Both teams rattling played as hornlike as they can play," Thunder railcar Scott Brooks said, "fighting through every possession."

They also came up with a key antitank defence in the terminal minute when Kendrick Perkins closed a shot by Gerald insurrectionist and Serge Ibaka closed Andre Miller to preserves a four-point lead. Westbrook completed the sequence with a layup to stretch the plus to six.

Kevin Durant struggled in the second half, going 0-for-8 from the field, but scored 21 points for the Thunder and had fivesome closed shots. Ibaka additional 18 points.

"There was a instance a some eld back that if Kevin goes 0-for-8, there's a good chance that we don't get this game," said Brooks. "Guys have to travel up. There's ever going to be a assorted guy."

Portland were unable to capitalize on Wallace's sizzling 40-point performance, with LaMarcus Aldridge the exclusive another Trail Blazer to reach threefold digits with 20 points.

"It wasn't enough," said Wallace. "I'd kinda verify the get than verify the points."

(Reporting by Mike Mouat in Windsor, Ontario; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

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