NBA: Westbrook pours in 45 as Rockets top Timberwolves
Russell Westbrook paired a season-high 45 points with 10 assists, and he carried the Houston Rockets to a 131-124 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday in Minneapolis.
Westbrook scored 27 second-half points and dominated down the stretch to help the Rockets fend off the Timberwolves, who attempted to rally behind Karl-Anthony Towns (30 points, 12 rebounds) and Andrew Wiggins (28 points).
Minnesota saw its losing skid reach eight games.
With James Harden scoring a season-low 12 points on 3-for-13 shooting, including 0-for-6 from 3-point range, the Rockets turned to reserve guards Eric Gordon and Austin Rivers to provide Westbrook support.
Gordon added a season-high 27 points while Rivers tallied 16 points. Westbrook, meanwhile, grabbed six rebounds and finished 13 of 13 from the free-throw line.
Kawhi's triple-double sparks Clippers past Heat
Kawhi Leonard scored 17 of his game-high 33 points in the crucial third quarter and had his first career triple-double as the Los Angeles Clippers beat the host Miami Heat 122117 on Friday night.
Los Angeles went from down six points to up 15 in the game-changing third quarter. The Clippers had trailed by 15 in the first period.
The Heat, who entered the game with the NBA’s best home record at 20-1, were led by Jimmy Butler, who had 20 points, eight rebounds and seven assists before going out with a right-ankle injury in the fourth quarter.
The Heat’s only home losses this season have come against Los Angeles teams -- they lost to the Lakers on Dec. 13.
Leonard, who rested in Los Angeles’ previous game, also had 10 rebounds and 10 assists. He was named an All-Star starter for the fourth time on Thursday and now has seven straight 30-point-plus games.
Clippers shooting guard Landry Shamet had 22 points.
Miami was without three rotation players: guard Goran Dragic (calf injury), Kendrick Nunn (foot) and Justise Winslow (back).
Thunder pull away to rout Hawks
Danilo Gallinari scored 25 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a season high in points in a 140-114 home win over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night.
The Thunder never trailed, but they didn’t start to pull away until they made a late push in the third quarter.