"In the season's 43rd game, the Timberwolves on Wednesday night entered a parallel universe in their tense 94-92 loss.

In that world, Oklahoma City superstar-in-waiting Kevin Durant and Wolves guard Corey Brewer are equals.

Well, almost.

Until Wednesday, about the only things the two seemingly had in common were their skinny 6-9 bodies and lottery positions in the 2007 draft.

Then, for one night, the two players entered into an inexplicable duel at both ends of the floor that ultimately wasn't decided until Durant carried the Thunder to its 24th victory this season -- matching last season's total -- by scoring six consecutive points down the stretch.

Those were the six points that separated Durant from Brewer, who has been offensively challenged for much of his career.

Brewer received the assignment to defend Durant and did just about everything possible to "hold" the third-year forward to 31 points, one fewer than his 32.2-point average since Christmas Day.

In return, Brewer answered with 25 points of his own -- as well as six assists and five steals -- that pushed the Wolves to the final moment. That's when Jonny Flynn's desperation three-pointer that would have won the game ticked the front of the rim at the final buzzer.

"That is the way I like to lose," Wolves center Al Jefferson said. "If we're going to lose, we're going to go down fighting. We had many chances. We can't walk out with our head down because that is a good team right there."

Trailing by 10 points early in the fourth quarter and behind by eight with 2:13 left, the Wolves scored six consecutive points to pull within 94-92 with 41.5 seconds left but couldn't score again.

Neither could the Thunder -- not for that final 2:13 -- but it didn't matter, not after the officials refused to review a play with 13 seconds left that official Kevin Fehr was positive the ball went out of bounds off Jefferson."