Thunder, Westbrook roll over Wolves
OKLAHOMA CITY – Russell Westbrook had his sixth triple-double in eight games and scored 15 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Oklahoma City Thunder pull away for a 113-99 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA on Friday.
Westbrook checked out with 2: 13 remaining, seemingly a rebound short of the feat, but a scoring change gave him his 10th rebound to go with 12 assists.
He has eight triple-doubles this season and 16 in his career.
Enes Kanter had 23 points and 15 rebounds, and Dion Waiters and Mitch McGary added 12 points apiece for the Thunder.
Elsewhere in the league, Atlanta made five 3-pointers in the final 6:38 to pull away from Phoenix, 96-87, Denver rallied to beat short-handed Golden State, 114103, Toronto beat Miami for the first time in more than five years, 102-92, and Dallas routed the Los Angeles Clippers, 129-99.
In Phoenix, Paul Millsap scored 23 points and Kyle Korver added 14 points for the Eastern Conference- leading Hawks.
Phoenix led by 11 points in the third quarter and were up 73-65 entering the fourth, but Millsap and Korver each sank two 3s and Kent Bazemore one in the Hawks’ late surge, when they went 5 for 6. Atlanta outscored Phoenix 31-14 in the fourth quarter.
Kenneth Faried had 24 points and 17 rebounds and Randy Foye hit three crucial 3-pointers to lead Denver past Golden State, which rested several of its top players, including Stephen Curry.
The Nuggets pulled off an impressive double this week — beating Atlanta on Wednesday and now the Warriors, who are on top in the Western Conference. Denver also improved to 5-2 since interim coach Melvin Hunt took over for Brian Shaw.
Golden State coach Steve Kerr gave Curry, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala and Andrew Bogut the night off because the team plays Saturday at home.
In Toronto, Kyle Lowry had 19 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and seven steals to lead the Raptors, who ended a 16-game skid against the Heat.
Their previous victory over Miami was a 111-103 home win on Jan. 27, 2010.
In Dallas, Chandler Parsons scored 22 points and Tyson Chandler had 14 points and 12 rebounds for his 26th double-double for the Mavericks, who pulled within a half-game of the fifth-place Clippers after starting the day in seventh place in the tightly packed Western Conference.
In other games, Portland’s Damian Lillard had 28 points, including five 3-pointers, and LaMarcus Aldridge added 22 points as the Trail Blazers cruised past the Detroit Pistons, 118-99. It was Detroit’s ninth straight loss.
Boston overcame an 11-point deficit to beat Orlando, 95-88, for its fifth win in the last six games. Evan Turner scored 16 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter.
Charlotte got 20 points from Gerald Henderson and 18 from Mo Williams to overcome a 19-point, first-half deficit and defeat Chicago, 101-91.
In Philadelphia, Robert Covington scored 24 points and the 76ers rallied from 18 points down in the third to beat Sacramento, 114-107.