Thunder tops Pelicans
The Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY — Russell Westbrook just missed a triple- double, and the Thunder beat the New Orleans Pelicans 121- 95 on Thursday night, a day after Thunder assistant and former Pelicans head coach Monty Williams’ wife died.
Ingrid Williams was involved in a car crash Tuesday night in Oklahoma City and died Wednesday. A moment of silence was observed for her before the game.
Monty Williams coached the Pelicans last season before coming to Oklahoma City to help new coach Billy Donovan.
Westbrook had 23 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.
Kevin Durant scored 23 points, and Serge Ibaka added 18 for the Thunder. They have won 14 of 16 heading into the All-Star break.
Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday each scored 23 points for the Pelicans.
Oklahoma City joined Golden State and San Antonio as the only teams with at least 40 wins.
The Thunder led 62-53 at halftime behind 18 points from Westbrook and 17 from Durant.
Westbrook got his 10th assist on Ibaka’s 3-pointer that gave the Thunder a 79-65 lead.
He had his ninth rebound with just under 3 minutes to go in the third quarter before heading to the bench for his usual rest with the Thunder ahead 86-68.
Oklahoma City led 95-74 at the end of the third quarter.
Oklahoma City’s backups expanded the lead early in the fourth quarter, and Westbrook didn’t return.
Bucks 99, Wizards 92
MILWAUKEE — Khris Middleton scored 27 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo had 17 points and 13 rebounds, and the Milwaukee Bucks held off the Washington Wizards 9992 on Thursday night.
Middleton scored 14 points in the final quarter, giving the Wizards trouble off the dribble and from the perimeter.
Washington got within three when John Wall made two free throws with 1:36 left. But Middleton answered again, hitting a jumper in the lane on the next possession before setting up a driveand-dish to Greg Monroe that gave the Bucks a 9790 lead with 15 seconds left. Middleton tied a season high with nine assists.
Bradley Beal scored 19 points for the Wizards, and Wall had 15 points and 10 assists.
The Wizards go into the All-Star break 3-7 in their last 10 games.
The Bucks will take a modest but badly-needed two-game winning streak into the break. At 22- 32, Milwaukee needs to inch back closer to .500 before it can start thinking about making a run at a second straight playoff appearance.
At least the Bucks gained confidence from the win after the lead see- sawed much of the night against Washington.
Sparked by better defense, the Wizards rallied from an 11- point deficit late in the second quarter to turn it into a tight contest after halftime.