Kevin Durant added 19 for the Thunder, who broke a three-game losing streak with a victory over Toronto on Sunday. Oklahoma City came into Monday's game trailing San Antonio by percentage points for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
Ersan Ilyasova scored 18 for the Bucks, who came into Monday one game out of the No. 8 playoff spot and face the New York Knicks at home Wednesday in a game that could prove critical to the Bucks' playoff hopes.
It was a rough night for Monta Ellis, who scored nine points on 3-for-12 shooting.
The Thunder beat the Bucks on the boards, outrebounding them 26-15 in the first half and 44-35 for the game.
With Oklahoma City already taking over the game in the first quarter, Westbrook hit a 3-pointer over Jennings — then paused to pantomime blowing smoke off his fingers and putting them back in holsters like an Old West gunslinger, a more-exaggerated-than-usual version of his celebration gesture.
Then Ibaka and Dunleavy got tangled up after a shot clock violation, with Ibaka standing over Dunleavy and keeping him down as he tried to get up off the floor. The two were separated and both assessed technicals — although Bucks fans booed loudly after a replay of the incident on the stadium video board, judging Ibaka to be the main aggressor.
The incidents didn't do much to slow down the Thunder, who led 35-18 going into the second quarter and 61-47 at the half after Westbrook hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
The Bucks hit some 3-point shots of their own to stay in the game in the third quarter. With Milwaukee trailing by 12, Westbrook appeared to carry the ball right in front of the bench but it wasn't called. Skiles appeared to complain about the no-call and received a technical — as did Jennings immediately afterward.
Durant hit both foul shots, Westbrook scored and the Thunder led 82-66 with just over three minutes left in the third quarter.
Sanders also received a technical late in the third quarter after he stormed toward a referee and Jennings tried to hold him back. Oklahoma City closed the quarter on an 11-2 run and led 87-68 going into the fourth.
Sanders then was called for his second technical at the 9:18 mark in the second half, high-fiving fans as he walked to the locker room.
Notes: The Bucks gave out miniature statues of former Bucks center Andrew Bogut to fans as originally planned, despite having traded Bogut to Golden State last month. The team polled fans through social media, and said more than 65 percent of them wanted the team to go through with the giveaway despite the trade. ... Jennings appeared to tweak his left knee in a collision with Thabo Sefolosha in the third quarter but was able to keep playing.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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