Thunder keeping Kanter

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The Thunder will keep center Enes Kanter after matching an offer sheet by the Portland Trail Blazers.

Oklahoma City acquired Kanter in a trade with the Utah Jazz last season, and he helped the Thunder while Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka battled injuries. He averaged 13.8 points and 7.8 rebounds in 49 games with Utah, but those numbers ballooned to 18.7 points and 11.0 rebounds in 26 games with the Thunder.

The Thunder announced their decision Sunday.

Kanter entered the offseason as a restricted free agent, and person with knowledge of the details told The Associated Press that he signed a four-year, $70 million offer sheet with Portland last week.

The Thunder have said they wanted to keep Kanter, a skilled low-post scorer who adds versatility to an offense that features Durant, Ibaka and Russell Westbrook.