Thunder star eclipses Chamberlain with 32nd triple-double of season

OKLAHOMA CITY — Russell Westbrook broke a tie with Wilt Chamberlain and inched closer to Oscar Robertson on Saturday.

Westbrook had 33 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds for his 32nd triple-double of the season, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 112-104 victory over the Utah Jazz.

“We were just able to attack the basket,” Westbrook said. “When they don’t have any shot blockers, your job is to be able to take advantage of it, and I thought we did a good job.

Westbrook broke a tie with Chamberlain (1967-68) for the second-most triple-doubles in a season. Robertson set the alltime record of 41 in 1961-62.

Westbrook’s milestone marks the most NBA games with double-digit totals in three or more statistical categories in more than half a century.

To match Robertson, Westbrook has 16 games remaining to manage nine more tripledoubles

“They are historic figures you are talking about — Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson — two of the greatest players to play the game,” Thunder coach Billy Donovan said.

“They were impactful in the game. And I think that when Russell’s career is done, whenever that is, he is a guy that you are going to look at and say that what he did throughout his career was historic.”

Victor Oladipo added 22 points to help the Thunder win for the third time in four regular-season meetings with the Jazz.

“To play this game, you have to feel like you are the best,” Oladipo said. “I feel like we are the best backcourt in the NBA.”

Utah was without center Rudy Gobert and forward Derrick Favors because of leg soreness, and Gordon Hayward played only 21 minutes, finishing with nine points — 13 below his average.

The Thunder opened the second half with a 14-5 run to take a 23-point lead. Westbrook had four assists during the spurt.

Utah cut the deficit to seven points twice in the final seven minutes and had it down to six with 1:18 to go. Westbrook had a driving dunk with 37 seconds left to restore the doubledigit advantage.

“They made a run, like good teams do, but I thought we did a good job in this game,” Westbrook said.

Utah coach Quin Snyder used his entire available ros-