DENVER -- Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder knocked several things off their Denver to-do list Tuesday night. They finally won in Denver, 101-94, snapping the franchises seven-game skid at the Pepsi Center. Not only did they all but ensure themselves of home-court advantage in the playoffs but they also proved they can win in the Mile High City, a potentially important psychological plus should these teams meet, as expected, in the first round of the NBA playoffs. "Its a regular season game," Durant said. "Playoffs are much different. Theyre a great team at home. Its going to be tough to win here, but were up for the challenge." Durant scored 32 points. Russell Westbrook added 18 points and James Harden 13 as the Thunder snapped a two-game skid and built a four-game lead over the Nuggets in the Northwest Division and Western Conference races with five games left, including a rematch Friday night in Oklahoma City. The Thunder could have the division crown wrapped up by then. "Almost is not good until you get it," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said after the first win by the Thunder in Denver since the SuperSonics moved to Oklahoma City in the beginning of the 2008-09 season. The franchise had lost seven straight games in Denver by an average of 19.3 points, its last win here coming on March 28, 2007. Ty Lawson, who scored a career-best 28 points, said he wasnt worried that the Thunder had gained an edge or any confidence that it would win in Denver in the playoffs. "Not really. I mean, its a regular season game. The playoffs are a lot different, theres a lot more pressure," Lawson said, echoing Durant. "So, today was a big game but I mean, its not near what the playoffs are going to be." The Nuggets fell for just the fifth time in 20 games since their Feb. 22 blockbuster trade of Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups reshaped their roster into a bunch of hardworking, team-first players that has rejuvenated a city, a fan base and coach George Karl. The Nuggets had been 10-0 at home since sending their all-star scorer to Madison Square Garden in a trade that brought them five new players and some draft picks, and they might have won this one were it not for some poor foul shooting and one prolonged funk in the fourth quarter. The Thunder took control with an 16-0 run that turned a 72-69 deficit into an 85-72 cushion. Durant capped the decisive burst with an alley-oop dunk and two free throws. "If it wasnt for that run, where we just didnt get back, missed assignments and they made easy shots and free throws, wed definitely be in the game, probably would have won the game," Lawson figured. There was a playoff intensity to this game and things stayed chippy until the end, when Durant and Danilo Gallinari (17 points) were whistled for a double technical with 12 seconds left. "Its all in the game, its all competitive nature," Durant said. "... It happens a lot, guys bump each other. It was nothing more than that." Actually, it was one small piece of a bigger puzzle that showed Brooks plenty. "We want to play tough basketball," Brooks said. "We want to make teams feel you, and I thought we did, but they did, too. Thats the way they play. (Karl) likes that toughness into the game and we do, too. Tonight was a test for us and I thought we did a good job of taking their physical play and matching it." The Nuggets lost centre Timofey Mozgov, one of the players who came over from New York in the Melo trade, to a sprained left knee and ankle late in the first quarter. Mozgov got hurt when Nick Collison was knocked into him in the first quarter. Mozgov, an athletic, seven-foot-one centre who had logged meaningful minutes in Denvers statement win over the Lakers at Los Angeles last weekend, said afterward that his ankle hurt more than his knee and that doctors told him his injuries werent serious. Still, he didnt make the trip afterward and was scheduled for MRIs Wednesday in Denver. Denver took its first lead at 59-58 on Nenes breakaway rim-rattler, but the Nuggets missed eight of 15 free throws in the third quarter and trailed 69-67 heading into the fourth quarter, when things fell apart. "We havent played as average as we played at times today in a long time," Karl said. Notes: Nuggets G Arron Afflalo (hamstring) sat out for the ninth time in 11 games. Chris "Birdman" Andersen (ankle) also was sidelined. ... Thunder C Kendrick Perkins collected 14 rebounds, 13 off the defensive glass. ... Lawsons previous career best was 25 points on Feb. 6 at Utah. ... This marked Denvers first loss at home since Feb. 7 against Houston. cheap jerseys from china . - Scott Dixon became the latest driver to deny Roger Penske an IndyCar championship, wrapping up his third title Saturday night in a race of attrition at Auto Club Speedway. cheap nfl jerseys . Scrivens stopped 34 shots for his first career shutout, leading the Toronto Maple Leafs past the injury-ravaged Ottawa Senators 3-0. http://www.wholesalemlbcheapjerseys.com/ . But watching Leafs goalie James Reimer go down Thursday night after taking a blow to the head brought back painful memories of something more serious. Cheap Manchester City Jerseys . Still going strong, the great No. 32 is back where he belongs. "Here I am," he said. The Hall of Fame running back, who was estranged for years from the NFL team where he starred in the 1950s and 60s -- after his previous role was eliminated by former president Mike Holmgren -- was welcomed back to the Browns on Wednesday by new owner Jimmy Haslam. Cheap Chicago Bulls Jerseys . -- All Danica Patrick needed to do was keep her car intact.LIBREVILLE, Gabon -- Mali beat co-host Gabon 5-4 in a penalty shootout on Sunday to reach the African Cup of Nations semifinals. Gabons hero from the group stage, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, missed his teams fourth spot kick to allow Seydou Keita to score the decisive penalty and send Mali through. The teams had earlier finished at 1-1 after extra time. The result meant both co-hosts have been eliminated in the space of 24 hours, after Equatorial Guinea lost 3-0 to Ivory Coast on Saturday. Aubameyang scored three goals in as many games to help Gabon finish top of Group C and the wife of Gabons president has worn a bright yellow shirt bearing his No. 9 at each match. The striker also hit the post and set up Gabons opening goal against Mali, but dissolved into tears and had to be consoled by teammates after his spot kick was saved by Mali goalkeeper Soumaila Diakite to send Gabon out. Mali, which also reached the semifinals in 2002 and 04, will play cup favourite Ivory Coast in the last four. Later, Ghana faces Tunisia in the last quarterfinal to decide which team will take on Zambia in the other semifinal. Eric Mouloungui scored for Gabon from close-range after Aubameyangs cutback in the 55th minute before substitute Cheick Diabate equalized for Mali in the 84th as normal time ended level. Gabon coach Gernot Rohr made three changes from the 1-0 win against Tunisia in the final group match. Mali swapped goalkeepers with Diakite returning after missing the 2-1 victory against Botswana last time out, while midfielder Samba Diakite was preferred to striker Garra Dembele in a cautious starting lineup. The co-hostt, trying for its first ever semifinal, had a great chance to take the lead when Aubameyang sprung the offside trap to go clean through on goal in the 29th, but his sidefooted effort struck the bottom of the post and rebounded to safety.dddddddddddd. Gabons dominance continued after the break and the deadlock was finally broken when a deep free kick found Aubameyang at the back post and his cutback allowed Mouloungui to force the ball past Diakite. Mali almost hit back straight away when Modibo Maiga turned his defender on the edge of the box and forced a low save from Gabon goalkeeper Didier Ovono in the 57th. The burst of action continued when Gabon hit the woodwork for the second time in the match as Daniel Cousins close-range shot rebounded off the post and into the arms of Diakite. The single-goal difference meant Mali always had a chance however, and Maiga went close after pouncing on a defensive error only to see his shot smothered by Ovono in the 71st. The equalizer eventually came when Maiga headed a cross back across goal to Diabate, who turned smartly and fired a low shot that squirmed under Ovono to set up extra time. Gabon kept the pressure up as the crowd sang in support, but Mali looked dangerous on the counterattack and Maiga advanced past two defenders before slicing his shot wide in the 92nd. Diabate had another chance for Mali in the 110th but guided his close-range header wide after Keitas free kick found him unmarked in the middle. Mali almost snatched the win in the final minute, but Keita shot over at full stretch from Diabates knockdown to send the game to penalties. cheap nfl jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '