Kevin Durant: 'Cleveland Cavaliers played hard'

Kevin Durant has said that the Cleveland Cavaliers played "extremely hard" during their defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The NBA's leading points scorer added 35 to lead the Thunder to victory, leaving them just a win behind the Western Conference leaders.

The 25-year-old told reporters: "Guys have pride and Cleveland plays extremely hard, so those guys made it a game late and we had to close it out.

"I just don't care if I miss. I had it in my mind that I was going to start the game off one for 10. That's how quickly it can change, man. I thought I might be in for a tough shooting night, but I always stay aggressive."

Cleveland can still make the playoffs this season, but sit five wins behind the Atlanta Hawks, who occupy eighth place in the Eastern Conference.