Third consecutive scoring title possible for OKC's Kevin Durant

BY BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Thursday, April 26, 2012
4/26/12 at 6:30 AM

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OKLAHOMA CITY - With Wednesday's 32-point performance against the Denver Nuggets, Thunder forward Kevin Durant completed his fifth NBA season with a 28.03 scoring average.

Whether the 23-year-old Durant has captured his third consecutive NBA scoring title will not be determined until Thursday, when the Los Angeles Lakers end their regular season with a game at Sacramento.

Entering his Thursday contest, Laker guard Kobe Bryant has an average of 27.86. To bump Durant from the top, Bryant must score at least 38 against the Kings. A 38-point finish would elevate Bryant to an average of 28.04.

In NBA history, only five players led the league in scoring in as many as three consecutive seasons. George Mikan did it for the Minneapolis Lakers in 1949-51 and Neil Johnston did it for the Philadelphia Warriors in 1953-55. Also for the Warriors, Wilt Chamberlain had a seven-year run (1960-66) of scoring titles. San Antonio's George Gervin was the scoring champion in 1978-80. Chicago's Michael Jordan had a seven-year streak of scoring titles (1987-93) and followed with an additional three-year streak (1996-98).

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Durant