DPA/Los Angeles

League top gun Durant dropped in five of his 35 points on free-throws in the final minute along with 11 rebounds and six assists on Thursday, as the visiting Thunder survived a late charge to beat the feisty undermanned Cleveland Cavaliers 102-95 for what was their 50th win of the season.

“It was a good game offensively for us and defensively up until that last stretch in the fourth was really good,” said Durant, who has netted 25 or more points in 33 consecutive contests. “It feels good that we have won 50 games but we have bigger goals in mind.”

Serge Ibaka had 16 points and 11 boards, while Reggie Jackson scored 13 for the Thunder (50-18), who regrouped after nearly blowing a 24-point cushion to move within 1.5 games of idle San Antonio for the top spot in the West.

“You hate to talk about the last few minutes,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. “So I’m not going to.”

Despite giving All-Star guard Russell Westbrook the night off to rest his surgically-repaired knee, Oklahoma City led 95-71 with 6 minutes 18 seconds left but couldn’t put it away.

Instead, the Cavs minus injured stars Kyrie Irving and Luol Deng went on a 21-2 run capped by Dion Waiters’ dunk off a steal to pull within 97-92 with 1 minute 12 seconds remaining.

“Pressing, just trying to get steals and create turnovers,” Waiters said. “We were able to do that.”

But Durant came to the rescue sinking four free throws around an Ibaka block of Waiters’ layup attempt to make it 101-92 with 37.6 ticks left.

Waiters buried a 3-pointer but Durant tossed in another from the stripe and the Thunder escaped with its fourth win in the last five outings.

“I thought it was over but those guys have pride and Cleveland made it a game too late,” Durant said. “We just had to close it out.”

Waiters netted a season-high tying 30 points, and Spencer Hawes added 20 in Cleveland’s third straight loss.

Elsewhere...

Houston Rockets 129, Minnesota Timberwolves 106: James Harden scored 28 points, Lithuania’s Donatas Motiejunas added a career-high 20, and the Rockets minus All-Star centre Dwight Howard (left ankle injury) went on a game-breaking 17-0 second-quarter run to trounce the T-Wolves for their 10th consecutive home victory. Kevin Love topped Minnesota with 29 points while rookie Gorgui Dieng had career-highs of 22 points and 21 rebounds.

Portland Trail Blazers 116, Washington Wizards 103: Wesley Matthews hit four triples en route to 28 points, Damian Lillard had 23 with 10 assists, and the Trail Blazers cruised past the Wizards. John Wall collected 24 points and 14 assists as Washington dropped to 0-2 on its four-game road trip.

Golden State Warriors 115, Milwaukee Bucks 110: Stephen Curry erupted for 14 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter, including four free throws in the final 3.1 seconds along with 11 assists, and the host Warriors held off the league-worst Bucks (13-56), who received 27 points from Brandon Knight. Klay Thompson netted 29 points while David Lee had 22 with 12 rebounds for Golden State (44-26) which moved 18 games above .500 for the first time in 20 seasons.