Westbrook perfect in Thunder victory
OKLAHOMA CITY — Russell Westbrook recorded his 35th triple-double of the season with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists and the Thunder cruised to a 12297 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night. The Thunder have won 16 straight games against Philadelphia, a run that stretches to the 2008-09 season, the franchise’s first in Oklahoma City.
Westbrook, who made all six of his field-goal attempts and all six of his free throws, has recorded five triple-doubles against Philadelphia, his highest total against any NBA team.
He needs six triple-doubles in Oklahoma City’s final 11 games to tie Oscar Robertson’s singleseason record, set during the 1961-62 season.
Nik Stauskas led the 76ers with 20 points, reaching the 20-point mark in consecutive games for the first time in his career. Oklahoma City dominated the 76ers on the boards, posting a 54-25 rebounding advantage.
After 11 lead changes in the opening minutes, the Thunder seized control with a 14-3 run near the end of the first quarter that put them ahead 29-22. Oklahoma City pushed its lead to 14 at one point before settling for a 63-50 halftime lead.
Philadelphia scored to start the third quarter, then the Thunder scored the next 15 points to build a 26-point lead and the tripledouble watch intensified. Westbrook’s 10th assist came when Taj Gibson rattled in a 15-foot jumper at the 9:10 mark and the 10th rebound came with 7:08 left in the quarter.
It was the 13th time this season, and the 27th time in his career, Westbrook clinched a tripledouble in the third quarter. He left the game with 2:39 left in the quarter and didn’t return.
Enes Kanter posted his 17th double-double of the season for the Thunder with 24 points and 11 rebounds.
NUGGETS 126, CAVALIERS 113
In Denver, Wilson Chandler scored 18 points in his return from a pulled groin and provided stellar defense on LeBron James in the Nuggets’ victory over Cleveland.
The Nuggets bounced back from consecutive heartbreaking lastsecond losses to Houston with a signature win that increased their lead to 1½ games over idle Portland in the race for the final playoff spot in the West.
Will Barton scored 20 points, Kenneth Faried added 17 and Jamal Murray had 15 off the bench for Denver, which also got 21 points from Gary Harris and 16 from Nikola Jokic.
Kyrie Irving lead the Cavs with 33 points but James had just 18 and the two stars sat out much of the fourth quarter with Cleveland trailing by double digits.
CELTICS 109, PACERS 100
In Boston, Isaiah Thomas scored 25 points, Avery Bradley had 18 with eight rebounds and the Celtics beat Indiana for its fifth win in six games.
Al Horford added 15 points with eight boards and eight assists, and Jae Crowder also scored 15 points for Boston, which won for the 12th time in 13 home games.
Paul George led the Pacers with 37 points and Jeff Teague had 25. Indiana has alternated by winning and losing in its last 15 games.
BULLS 117, PISTONS 95
In Chicago, Nikola Mirotic scored a season-high 28 points, and the Bulls beat Detroit.
Mirotic shot 12 of 15 and made 4 of 6 3-point attempts to lead Chicago to an easy win after dropping eight of 10.
Jimmy Butler added 16 points and 12 assists. Joffrey Lauvergne filled in for suspended center Robin Lopez and outplayed Andre Drummond with 17 points and seven rebounds. Rookie Paul Zipser added a career-high 15 points.
HORNETS 109, MAGIC 102
In Orlando, Fla., Kemba Walker scored 22 points and Marco Belinelli came off the bench to add 20 and Charlotte pulled off a fourthquarter comeback to defeat the Magic.
Orlando entered the fourth quarter with a five-point lead but Frank Kaminsky came off the bench to score 13 of his 18 points and Walker added eight points to help the Hornets outscore the Magic 32-20 in the final quarter.
WIZARDS 104, HAWKS 100
In Washington, D.C., Bradley Beal scored 28 points and John Wall added all 22 of his in the second half to help the Wizards over Atlanta.
Wall also had 10 assists on a night he shot just 6 of 21 from the floor, including two assists to Beal during a late 14-2 run that helped Washington ensure victory after Atlanta had led by as many as 12 early.
Ian Mahinmi had 10 rebounds off the bench as the Wizards used a 55-44 edge on the glass to overcome 40 percent shooting.
Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 29 points and Dennis Schroder had 18 to lead the Hawks, who fell to their fifth consecutive defeat.