TURKEY BOUND – Thunder’s Westbrook, Durant dazzle against Lakers

OKLAHOMA CITY (2010 FIBA World Championship) - Team USA hopefuls Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook led Oklahoma City to a 101-96 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday in the NBA Western Conference play-offs.

Durant had 29 points and 19 rebounds and Westbrook scored 27, pulled down eight boards and dished out four assists as the Thunder won Game 3 in the first-round tie.

They trail in the series, 2-1.

Both Durant and Westbrook are in the USA Basketball national team squad for 2010-12 and have a shot of making the Americans' FIBA World Championship side.

Spain's Pau Gasol finished with 17 points and 15 rebounds for the Lakers, while Kobe Bryant followed up his 39-point night in Game 2 with 24, but the superstar was just 10 of 29 from the floor.

The Lakers missed 21 of their 31 attempts from long range.

Thunder boss Scott Brooks was presented his NBA Coach of the Year award by commissioner David Stern before tip-off.

Rose Blooms

Another up-and-comer in the USA squad is Derrick Rose, and he was outstanding for Chicago in their 108-106 Game 3 triumph over Cleveland.

Rose had 31 points and seven assists while Kirk Hinrich, a member of the Americans' bronze-medal winning side at the 2006 FIBA World Championship, made all four of his shots from long range and finished with 27.

France's Joakim Noah had 15 rebounds, two blocks and a steal to go with his 10 points for the Bulls.

Cleveland got 39 points, 10 boards and eight assists from their Beijing Olympics gold-medal winner LeBron James but Anderson Varejao of Brazil had just three points and six rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench for the Cavs.

Batum Shoulder Woe

France's Nicolas Batum hurt his shoulder in Portland's Game 2 defeat to Phoenix but was in the starting line-up for the Blazers on Thursday in Game 3.

His presence couldn't prevent the Suns from rolling to a 108-89 win, a result that has given Phoenix a 2-1 lead in the series.

Batum had to leave the game in the first half after receiving "two or three bumps."

"It hurt a lot," said Batum, who hopes to return for Game 4.

"I will see Saturday. I want to be able to play.

"I don't want to let the team (down)."

Batum had surgery on the same shoulder before the season and missed the first 45 games of the campaign.

He is a very important player for France heading into the FIBA World Championship.

Portland's Rudy Fernandez has been in the starting line-up since another Blazer, Brandon Roy, hit the sidelines because of injury.

The Spain international drilled four of his seven shots from long range and finished with 12 points in 22 minutes.

Coming off the bench for Phoenix, Slovenia point guard Goran Dragic had 10 points in 10 minutes and Brazil shooting guard Leandro Barbosa scored six in 11 minutes.

FIBA