Thunder stop Raptors streak
Los Angeles, March 19: Russell Westbrook’s fifth straight triple double helped the Oklahoma City Thunder end the Toronto Raptors 11- game NBA winning streak on Sunday, as the Portland Trail Blazers rumbled to a 13th consecutive victory.
Westbrook scored 37 points, pulled down 13 rebounds and handed out 14 assists. His heroics, including back- to- back baskets to break a tie with 54.9 seconds remaining, denied the Raptors the longest win streak in club history.
Toronto remained atop the Eastern Conference with a 52- 18 record, but the Raptors were fuming after a chaotic end to the contest.
DeMar DeRozan, who led Toronto with 24 points, was ejected with less than 10 seconds to play for arguing with an official.
“You know the frustration, you know what it came down to,” said DeRozan, who was still angry after the game at what he said were noncalls on obvious fouls. “It was obvious, especially at the end of the game.”
Teammate Serge Ibaka was tossed moments later, then Toronto coach Dwane Casey was ejected — although video appeared to show it was a fan behind him who yelled at the referee. ‘ KEEP YOUR COMPOSURE’ ● Russell Westbrook scored 37 points, pulled down 13 rebounds and handed out 14 assists. His heroics, including back- to- back baskets to break a tie with 54.9 seconds remaining, denied the Toronto Raptors the longest win streak in club history.
Gundy were fined $ 15,000 apiece for post- game rants about refereeing.
New Zealand centre Steven Adams added 25 points and eight rebounds for the Thunder while Paul George scored 22 points and Carmelo Anthony netted 15.
The Thunder remained two games behind the surging Trail Blazers for third place in the West.
Led by Damian Lillard’s 23 points, all five Trail Blazers starters scored in double figures in a 122- 109 victory over the Clippers in Los Angeles.
C. J. McCollum and Maurice Harkless scored 21 points apiece, Jusuf Nurkic added 17 and AlFarouq Aminu chipped in 16 as Portland’s starters out- scored their Clippers counterparts 98- 44.
With their 13th consecutive victory, Portland equaled the second- longest win streak in team history, behind their 16- game run in 1991.
Meanwhile, in Minneapolis, the Houston Rockets improved their league- leading record with a 129- 120 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves by fending off a late surge from the hosts.