Thunder rebounding behind dynamic duo

OKLAHOMA CITY 123 PORTLAND 114

Paul George had 36 points and eight rebounds, Russell Westbrook had a triple-double of 29 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the visiting Portland Trail Blazers 123114 on Tuesday night.

After losing five of six games, during which they gave up 154, 142 and 138 points, the Thunder have won three straight and moved back up to third in the West. They also had been beaten by the Trail Blazers three straight times at home.

Damian Lillard had 34 points and eight assists, and C.J. McCollum scored 31 for Portland, which committed 19 turnovers — five more than its average — and had a three-game winning streak snapped. Jusuf Nurkic had 22 points and 15 rebounds.

Sixteen of those Portland turnovers came on Thunder steals. George, who ranks second in the NBA behind Westbrook in steals at 2.33 per game, led the way with five.

“That’s what we lean on — our size, our length, our ability to be able to make it tough for 48 minutes,” Westbrook said. “Eventually we wear out teams.”

Except for McCollum, who went seven for 12 from three-point range, the Trail Blazers struggled from behind the arc, going 10 for 36. Oklahoma City hit 11 of 23.

“They’ve been shooting the three well in recent games,” Portland coach Terry Stotts said of the Thunder. “That made the difference, but I thought the biggest difference in the game was our turnovers that they created. The two quarters that we lost, we had six turnovers in each of those quarters and that just fueled their runs.”

Westbrook often does his “rock the baby” move after a big play. Portland’s Evan Turner mimicked that move after a first-quarter basket.

“I didn’t even see it, honestly,” Westbrook said. “He can rock right back to Portland.”

at Toronto 120, Sacramento 105:

Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet each scored 19 points and the Raptors overcame the absence of resting Kawhi Leonard to extend their home winning streak to 10 games. Toronto’s record is 12. Kings rookie Marvin Bagley scored a careerhigh 22 points with 11 rebounds.

Minnesota 118, at Phoenix 91: KarlAnthony-Towns had 25 points, 18 rebounds and seven assists as the Timberwolves beat the Suns for the second straight game and handed them a fifth loss in a row.

at Dallas 106, Clippers 98