Harden scores 33 as OKC routs Bobcats 122-95

OKLAHOMA CITY — James Harden scored 22 of his career-high 33 points in the first half, Kevin Durant had 26 points and Russell Westbrook added 23 as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Charlotte Bobcats 122-95 on Saturday night.

The Thunder improved to 18-2 at home, rebounding from a disappointing 96-90 loss to visiting Cleveland on Friday night, in a game Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks said his team didn’t play up to expectations.

They started slow against the Bobcats and led 28-25 after one quarter before picking it up. The Thunder led by as much as 29 and the reserves got the bulk of the playing time in the fourth quarter.

D.J. Augustin scored 22 points for the Bobcats and Corey Maggette had 21.

Oklahoma City shot a season-high 63 percent (46 for 73), the best in franchise history since Jan. 21, 2002 against Philadelphia.

One night after falling to Cleveland — which came in at 15-23, the Thunder came out strong against the league-worst Bobcats. The Thunder shot 59 percent in the first half and led 58-40 at halftime after outscoring the Bobcats 30-15 in the second quarter.

Westbrook hit his first six shots and he and Durant combined to go 14 of 18 from the field in the first half. Along with Harden, the three scored 55 of the team’s 58 first-half points.