WESTBROOK JOINS KAREEM WITH PERFORMANCE
toronto» Russell Westbrook had 51 points and a triple-double and scored the winning points in the Thunder’s 113-110 overtime victory over the Suns on Friday.
According to the Thunder, it was the first 50-point triple-double since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had one in 1975. Westbrook finished with 13 rebounds and 10 assists and took a career-high 44 shots.
Westbrook made a layup to put the Thunder up a point with 7.6 seconds remaining. Phoenix’s Devin Booker missed a layup and Westbrook was fouled. Westbrook scored his 50th and 51st points at the free-throw line with 3.5 seconds remaining. Booker missed a 3-pointer as time expired.
FRIDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
Kyrie Irving had 26 points and LeBron James had 21, helping the Cavaliers hold off DeMar DeRozan and the Raptors for a 94-91 victory. … Kevin Durant led Golden State with 30 points, Klay Thompson contributed 28 and the Warriors bounced back from their season-opening loss to beat the Pelicans 122-114 despite 45 points from New Orleans’ Anthony Davis. … Andre Drummond had 12 points and 20 rebounds, helping the Pistons rout the Magic 108-82. … Jeremy Lin had 21 points and just missed a triple-double as the Nets beat the Pacers 103-94. … Kemba Walker scored 24 points to lead six Charlotte players in double figures, and the Hornets erased a 19-point deficit in the second half to beat the Heat 97-91. … Trevor Ariza scored 27 points, James Harden had 26 and the Rockets beat Dallas 106-98 with Dirk Nowitzki missing from the Mavericks’ home opener with a stomach ailment. Nowitzki didn’t play for just the second time in 19 home openers with Dallas. … George Hill scored 23 points, Rudy Gobert had 13 points and 13 rebounds and the Jazz beat the Lakers 96-89 in Utah’s home opener.
FOOTNOTE
Organization apologizes. The 76ers apologized Friday for canceling the national anthem performance of a singer wearing a “We Matter” jersey. The 76ers backtracked from their original stance when they told R&B singer Sevyn Streeter she could not perform the anthem before Wednesday night’s season opener because of the shirt’s slogan.