With each superlative performance, Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant is slowly inching his way from MVP contender to outright favorite. The 25-year-old outplayed LeBron James and the reigning champions Miami Heat, scoring a 112-95 victory on Wednesday at the American Airlines Arena.

He notched 33 points, seven rebounds and five assists – the 12th straight game in which Durant has scored 30 points or more. The last time anyone came close: Tracy McGrady managed the feat for 14 consecutive games in the 2002-2003 season. 

In the last six games, the ‘Slim Reaper’ has been shooting over 60 percent from the field, including 58 percent from beyond the arc. His scoring efficiency has been – gasp – LeBron-lite. (LeBron can never match the silky, aesthetic appeal of Durant’s game, but he has been the king of efficiency in the past three seasons.) 

James himself didn’t do too bad either, tallying 34 points on an efficient 12-of-20 shooting. But it was all for naught as the Heat were thoroughly outclassed by a Thunder team that was down 18 points midway through the first quarter. 

Following their ice-cold start when the Thunder fell behind 22-4, they went on one of those scoring onslaughts that were equal parts unpredictable and unstoppable. The Thunder proceeded to outscore the Heat by 43 points in the next 33 minutes. By the start of the final period, the Western Conference leaders had inverted the deficit, as they led 94-75. 

What was pegged as a marque matchup between the league’s premier superstars ended embarrassingly one-sided. Much of the damage came from the red-hot Durant, who paraded his superior shooting stroke, draining jumper after jumper against James. 

But more so than that, it is the overwhelming sense that Durant finally believes he is at least as good as, if not better, than the current MVP. There is an air of confidence and swagger that is radiating from a man who is leading his team on all fronts. With Russell Westbrook out, Durant delivers the jab, gut punch and haymaker – all whilst balancing facilitating duties in the All-Star point guard’s absence. 

And the plaudits have come swift and fast. Sports Illustrated’s Ian Thomsen writes that the five-time All-Star is “channeling Jordan” during his league-wide blitz. Over at Eye on Basketball, Matt Moore opines that the Kevin Durant era has begun. 

It is too early to proclaim Durant as this season’s MVP. It is also premature (and wholly untrue) to call Durant a better player than James. But he is slowly getting there. And on the evidence of tonight’s performance, the former Texas Longhorn is close. The rest of the league are worried and watching. 

 

 

Reach Executive Producer Andrew Seah here.