NBA schedule: Kevin Durant scores 46 as Thunder defeat Blazers

As a King, Gay is averaging 21.0 points while shooting 52.5 percent overall and 37.0 percent from three. In addition to his excellent shooting numbers, Gay’s also averaging 3.1 assists with Sacramento, a number that would be a career-high.

Gay’s numbers are even more impressive when you just look at the month of January. In 10 games, Gay’s averaging 22.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists. He’s shooting a spectacular 57.0 percent overall and a scorching 51.9 percent from three. And while the Kings are only 5-5 in January, that’s an improvement over how they were playing before.

Durant scored 46 points on 17-of-25 shooting, nailing 6-of-7 three-pointers and notching 11 points in the final three-plus minutes as the Thunder took control of the game.

With Russell Westbrook out, Durant has taken it upon himself to carry the Thunder, and his performance in the month of January has been stuff of legend. In 11 games this month, Durant is averaging 37.0 points, 5.9 assists and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 52.2 percent overall and 39.2 percent from three. He has three 40-point games, a 50-point game and has been under 30 points just twice.

The Trail Blazers went cold down the stretch when they could absolutely least afford it, scoring just six points in the final 6:29 of the game. All the while, Durant was going bonkers. He went 17-of-25 from the floor, leading his team to 48.3 percent shooting for the game, including 10-of-15 from deep.

And he hit some utterly ridiculous bombs in the final minutes.

We interrupt your regularly scheduled Jazz-Timberwolves game for a game of catch between the world’s most adorable little girl and the world’s most adorable basketball player, Ricky Rubio:

... and then the court mop-up finished up and the Jazz bear mascot carried her back to his lair to eat her.

The Oklahoma City Thunder weren’t about to let the Portland Trail Blazers come into their building and beat them for a third straight time. Kevin Durant went off for another incredible scoring effort and the Oklahoma City defense made plays late to help the Thunder secure a 105-97 victory on Tuesday night.

Durant blew up for 46 points on 17-of-25 shooting. He hit a crazy three-pointer in Nicolas Batum’s face with 48 seconds remaining. And then made another even more ridiculous dagger with 26 seconds left in the game to secure the eventual win.

Interestingly enough, the Celtics were trailing 31-17 when Bradley went down just a little more than a minute into the second quarter. Yet somehow they’ve managed to keep this thing competitive without arguably their best perimeter defender. Bradley had just three points in his 7:23 of game action.

• NBA newsletter: Good morning, it’s an NBA tanking nightmare!

10 out of 10 missed dunk, right here. More entertaining than a make would have been.

For more on Oden, read David J. Roth’s essay.

There are five games on the schedule on Tuesday, with the main course a cut above the rest. With the Portland Trail Blazers and Oklahoma City Thunder tied for the second best record in the Western Conference at 31-10, that is clearly the game to watch.

8 p.m. ET