Durant’s baseline slam over 7-foot Toronto center Rasho Nesterovic was certainly impressive enough. But the dunk was only part of Durant’s 27-point performance, as the SuperSonics held off the Raptors 123-115 on Friday night.

When Durant caught the touch pass from Earl Watson and took one dribble toward the basket, he didn’t plan on dunking over Nesterovic. But when the burly center went to challenge Durant, the rookie showed he can power the big guys on the inside.

“I’ve just got to start doing that more, trying to finish when guys attack,” Durant said. “That was one of the turning points of the game.”

The Sonics rebounded from a lackluster, uninspired effort two nights earlier against New Orleans, thanks largely to Durant, who made 11 of 18 shots, and 23 points from Wally Szczerbiak.