NBA Westbrook’s triple-double saves Thunder yet again
Russell Westbrook had a big second half and another tripledouble, and it still almost wasn’t enough for Oklahoma City.
Westbrook had 36 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his 20th triple-double of the season and the Thunder beat the host Sacramento Kings 122-118 on Sunday night.
The dynamic, five-time AllStar guard had 19 triple-doubles last season. He entered Sunday averaging a tripledouble and is trying to match Hall of Fame guard Oscar Robertson as the only NBA player to average a triple-double for a full season.
What pleased Thunder coach Billy Donovan regarding the latest triple-double was how well Westbrook played after intermission. Westbrook had 25 points, seven rebounds and four assists in the second half, and scored 13 points in the fourth to help thwart a late Sacramento charge.
“Russell’s second half was phenomenal. He was really efficient scoring and passing,” Donovan said.
What didn’t please Donovan was allowing the Kings to rally from a 12-point deficit in the final 2:04. An 11-2 run capped by a DeMarcus Cousins threepointer pulled the Kings within 116-113 with 26.5 seconds left.
“We played really well on defense outside of the final minute and a half of the fourth quarter,” Donovan said. “We allowed 39 points in the fourth quarter. We were fortunate we won. The things we did at the end of the game will get you beat.”
Enes Kanter had 29 points and 12 rebounds for the Thunder. Victor Oladipo had 17 of his 23 points in the first half and Alex Abrines had 13 points. Oklahoma City had dropped three of its previous four games.
Cousins had 31 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists for the Kings, who have lost two straight and five of six. Rudy Gay had 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Darren Collison had 21 points.
The Kings committed 22 turnovers that led to 23 points after having 21 giveaways in a loss Friday to the Cavaliers. They are 1-5 on this sevengame homestand. Hawks 111, Bucks 98:
Mike Dunleavy scored 20 points in his second game with host Atlanta in its win over Milwaukee. It was his first 20-point performance since a first-round playoff game for Chicago on April 30, 2015. Kent Bazemore scored 24 points to lead Atlanta as he and Dunleavy offset a 33-point game by Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has scored at least 30 points in eight games in a breakout season.
Pistons 102, Lakers 97: Tobias Harris scored 23 points and hit a decisive three-pointer with 30.5 seconds to play, and visiting Detroit snapped a three-game losing streak. Marcus Morris scored 23 points and Andre Drummond had 15 points and 17 rebounds for the Pistons. Los Angeles lost its fourth straight despite 26 points from Lou Williams.
Bulls 108, Grizzlies 104: Doug McDermott scored 31 points, Jimmy Butler had a pair of key baskets in the closing minute and Chicago beat host Memphis. The Bulls broke a 104-all tie with 25 seconds left on a 15-footer from Butler and two free throws by McDermott. Butler also had a goahead 18-footer with 53 seconds left and finished with 16 points to help Chicago win its second straight.
Rockets 137, Nets 112: James Harden had 22 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in his 12th triple-double of the season and visiting Houston easily ended its first losing streak of the season. Eric Gordon led the Rockets with 24 points and Trevor Ariza added 23.
Raptors 116, Knicks 101: DeMar DeRozan had 23 points, Norman Powell added 21 and host Toronto used a dominant third quarter to beat New York. DeRozan also had five rebounds and five assists before coming out late in the third quarter. The Raptors led by 38 points in the third quarter in winning their third straight game overall and fifth in a row against the Knicks, whose Carmelo Anthony had 18 points. Mavericks 98, Timberwolves 87: Wesley Matthews scored 19 points and Dirk Nowitzki added 17 for host Dallas. J.J. Barea scored 15 points for the Mavs and Deron Williams had 13 points and 10 assists. Gorgui Dieng scored 21 points and Andrew Wiggins had 19 for the Timberwolves. Dallas broke open a two-point game by closing the third quarter on an 11-4 run, then Barea scored his team’s first nine points of the fourth quarter.