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Final Score: New Orleans 83 - Oklahoma City 98

Oklahoma City, OK (Sports Network) - Kevin Durant scored a team-high 29 points to lead the red-hot Oklahoma City Thunder to a decisive 98-83 win over the New Orleans Hornets at Ford Center.

Russell Westbrook had a near-triple double with 17 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, as the Thunder won for the 15th time in 18 games to continue their ascension up the West standings. At 39-24, Oklahoma City sits mere percentage points ahead of Phoenix for the fifth spot in the conference.

Serge Ibaka added 12 points off the bench for the Thunder, while Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic each had 10 in the win.

David West provided a game-high 33 points for the Hornets, who have lost five of six to fall 5 1/2 games out of the final playoff spot in the West. Marcus Thornton had 11 points in a reserve role, while Julian Wright provided 10 in defeat. Darren Collison recorded eight points and nine assists for New Orleans.

The Thunder took a 29-26 lead after the first quarter and used an 8-0 burst in the latter stages of the second to a grab a 48-39 lead on a Durant dunk with three minutes left.

The hosts held a 54-45 halftime advantage.

Oklahoma City scored 12 of the first 18 points of the second half, going in front by 15, 66-51, on a Krstic jumper four minutes into the period. The lead reached as high as 19 on Durant three before heading into the fourth with an 80-62 cushion.

Durant hit his second three of the game for a 21-point lead to begin the final 12 minutes, and the Thunder led comfortably the rest of the way.

"This was a good win, we had an interesting start...but I thought the last 42 minutes our defense was about as good as it could possibly be," said Thunder head coach Scott Brooks.