'BROOK & DONE
Melo & Co. Thunderstruck by Russell’s latest gem
Hurricane Westbrook blew through the Garden and tore up the Knicks’ six-game home winning streak. And Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek tore into his big men for allowing Oklahoma City to secure 17 offensive rebounds, saying the group has to get “tougher.’’
Oklahoma City point guard Russell Westbrook kept up his rampage, nearly posting a tripledouble by halftime, and notching it early in the third quarter as his Thunder stole a 112-103 victory over the Knicks. It was the second-fastest triple-double in history behind Jim Tucker, who needed 17 minutes to accomplish the feat in 1955 for the Syracuse Nationals.
Westbrook posted 27 points, 14 assists and 18 rebounds and now is averaging a triple-double for the season (30.9 points, 11.3 assists, 10.3 rebounds). No longer sharing the spotlight with Kevin Durant, Westbrook has eight triple-doubles this season as the Thunder moved to 11-8.
The Knicks became a losing team again at 8-9 and heard boos at the buzzer.
“Russ is Russ,’’ Carmelo Anthony said. “He’s a specimen — all over the court. Russ is playing at an extremely high level. He was going to get those rebounds in double-digits, the way he played and the way they played.”
While Westbrook was a blur of electric blue, Anthony was an eyesore, his ball-stopping ways drawing mild boos in the second half. Anthony had his second straight putrid game in shooting 4-of-19 for 18 points.
“It’s easy to talk about on paper, but then you have to go guard the guy,’’ Hornacek said.
Hornacek was less upset at Westbrook’s whirlwind than his Knicks’ frontcourt being manhandled underneath.
While the Knicks couldn’t stop Westbrook, the Oklahoma City point guard wasn’t the only one who crushed the Knicks on the glass. OKC big man Enes Kanter had his season’s best performance — 24 points and 10 rebounds — becoming a major factor late as Hornacek stuck with overwhelmed Joakim Noah, who had another dreary outing — two points, three boards in 25:40.
Hornacek admitted the entire big-man crew got “manhandled’’ on the glass and said the bigs need to get a “nasty’’ streak like OKC’s guys.
“They just outmuscled and outhustled us, quicker to the ball,’’ Hornacek said. “Kanter, [Steven] Adams, those guys you’re going to have to hit them and hit them hard. They were tougher than us. We got strong guys, but it’s a different being big and strong and having nastiness. Kanter had a little nastiness going. That’s where our bigs have to get where you’re not afraid to knock a guy down, especially if you’re shoving you under the basket.’’
Derrick Rose couldn’t keep up with Westbrook, but had an excellent shooting performance before cooling off late, finishing with his ’Knicks-high 30 points, hitting an array of mid-range shots and drives to go 10 of 20 from the field.
“Thirty points don’t mean nothing when you lose,’’ said Rose, who also had seven rebounds and four assists.
With 10:41 left in the third, Westbrook whipped a long pass to Victor Oladipo on a fast break for his 10th assist to cement the triple-double. He had a chance to complete his triple-double on the last possession of the half, but his pass inside was broken up by Kyle O’Quinn. That also gave Westbrook five turnovers, to go along with 14 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.
Oklahoma City often doubled Anthony at the left elbow and he wasn’t in his passing mode. He collected just two assists.
“Anytime you see two or three guys, it is always difficult out there,’’ Anthony said. “That was their plan, especially when you’re not making shots. We were 6of-30 from the 3. When the outside shots aren’t going in, it is hard to open the court.”
Anthony said he felt the looks were good and he missed a lot of stuff inside after powerfully driving in close.
“They all feel good,’’ Anthony said. “They weren’t long, short, they were bouncing on the rim, chippers. Same shots I hit all the time. I can’t stop taking those shots and looking at those shots.” marc.berman@nypost.com