Oklahoma City, OK (My Sportsbook) - Kevin Durant connected on 14-of-21 from the field for a game-high 32 points to lead the suddenly improving Oklahoma City Thunder to an 89-79 triumph over the Detroit Pistons.

Oklahoma City recorded its first back-to-back wins of the season and has compiled a 5-4 record over its past nine games to improve to 8-33, meaning the Philadelphia 76ers' record of futility (9-73), which was seemingly in danger just last month, is likely to remain intact for at least another year.

Chris Wilcox logged 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Desmond Mason chipped in 11 and 11 in the win.

"We played hard on defense," Durant said. "Guys are helping each other out a little more. We're just getting better. I guess we're reaping the benefits."

Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton each logged 18 points for the Pistons, who have now dropped a season-high four straight games. Rasheed Wallace provided 12 points and eight rebounds, and Allen Iverson ended with 14 points in a losing cause.

Already ahead, 71-67, going into the fourth, the Thunder put together a scintillating performance to start the fourth quarter for an insurmountable lead. Five free throws, Durant's bucket in transition and mid-range jumper, Earl Watson's layup and Kyle Weaver's dunk resulted in a 13-0 flurry.

"They jumped right on us offensively [in the fourth]," Iverson said. "We couldn't turn their water off. They got hot, got into an offensive rhythm and we couldn't stop them."

Detroit missed its first nine shots in the frame and found itself down 84-67 with 6:33 remaining. A powerful Wilcox dunk in traffic ended a streak of six straight Detroit points at the four-minute mark, and the Pistons all but conceded defeat following another dunk from Wilcox a minute later.

Oklahoma City held a slim 21-18 lead after 12 minutes of play and maintained a three-point edge, 49-46, after an evenly matched second quarter.

The third quarter just like the second, with neither team taking complete control. The Thunder eventually pulled ahead, 71-67, before taking over in the fourth.

Game Notes

Detroit, which had not lost four straight since January 2005, fell to 10-10 on the road this season...The Thunder are 6-16 as the host in 2008-09...Thunder forward Joe Smith (knee) and center Robert Swift (virus) both missed the game with their respective injuries...Detroit had won eight straight in the series...Jeff Green had a game-high 14 rebounds to go with nine points for Oklahoma City.