The Kings playing in their first game with interim coach Tyrone Corbin at the helm, as Michael Malone was fired on Sunday, fell 104-92 to the Thunder at Sleep Train Arena.
Sacramento (11-14) lost its fourth straight game and fell to 2-8 without DeMarcus Cousins, who remains out with viral meningitis, while Oklahoma City (12-13) extended their winning streak to seven games.
Sacramento faced a 10-point deficit entering the fourth quarter, but went on a 11-0 run to take the lead to 84-83 with 8:05 to go in the game on a Carl Landry jumper.
The teams then traded the lead on a Kevin Durant jumper, another Landry pull-up jumper, and a Reggie Jackson old-fashioned bank shot 3-point play as Oklahoma City led 88-86 with 7:24 to play –- a lead the visitors never relinquished.
The Thunder jumped out to a 9-0 run that began with a Russell Westbrook dunk off a Reggie Evans turnover 20 seconds into the game.
Oklahoma City took advantage of Sacramento’s slow start shooting 59.1 percent from the floor, fueled by Westbrook’s 12 points in the stanza, and led 34-20 after the first quarter.
The Kings battled back outscoring the Thunder 34-27 in the second quarter and cut to the deficit to four, 47-43 with 5:08 remaining in the quarter.
Oklahoma City weathered the storm, outscoring Sacramento 14-11 the rest of the quarter and headed into the halftime break with a 61-54 lead.
Ramon Sessions provided offense off the bench for the Kings, matching Rudy Gay’s 11 points to lead the Sacramento while Westbrook’s tear continued with 19 first-half points.
The Thunder extended their halftime lead to 10 as Durant got into the act scoring nine points in the third quarter.
Westbrook led Oklahoma City with 32 points, while Durant finished with 26, and Anthony Morrow chipped in with 10 points off the bench.
Gay led the Kings with 22 points. Landry and Sessions added 14 and 11 points, respectively off the bench, and Ben McLemore rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points.
STANDOUT PERFORMER
Westbrook was sensational going for 32 points, while distributing seven assists and corralling six rebounds.
TURNING POINT
The resilient Thunder outscored Sacramento 17-6 over the last 7:24 of the game.
INJURY UPDATE
Kings – C DeMarcus Cousins (viral meningitis) and F Omri Casspi (left knee bone contusion) were out.
Thunder – None to report.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Kings five-game homestand continues with game four on Thursday versus Milwaukee.
