WESTBROOK LEADS BY WAY OF 14TH TRIPLE-DOUBLE
boston» Russell Westbrook had his 14th triple-double of the season and his third straight 40-point game, scoring 45 points with 11 assists and 11 rebounds on Friday night to lead the Thunder to a 117-112 victory over the Celtics.
Westbrook missed his first five shots but scored the last seven points of the first half as the Thunder turned a three-point deficit into a four-point lead. He scored 18 in the fourth quarter, including eight straight during a 10-0 run that flipped a 104-100 deficit into a six-point lead.
FRIDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
Elfrid Payton had 25 points and nine assists and the Magic blocked nine shots in the first quarter in a 109-90 victory over the Lakers. Serge Ibaka added 19 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks for Orlando. … Nic Batum had 20 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his first triple-double of the season, and the Hornets beat the Bulls 103-91. It was Batum’s seventh triple-double of his career. … LeBron James scored 19 points, Kevin Love added 14 points and 15 rebounds, and the Cavaliers rolled past the Nets, 119-99. James, Love and Kyrie Irving, who had 13 points and 10 assists, were all removed with 3:57 remaining in the third quarter and Cleveland leading 90-48. The lopsided margin gave the Cavaliers a chance to rest their stars heading into Sunday’s showdown with the Warriors. … Draymond Green made a tiebreaking dunk with 1:31 left and Kevin Durant scored 32 points despite playing in foul trouble, lifting the Warriors to 119-113 victory over the Pistons. Stephen Curry had 25 points and eight assists, Klay Thompson scored 17 points, including two on a lead-padding jumper with 22 seconds to go. The NBA-leading Warriors have won seven straight. … Mike Conley scored 24 points and Zach Randolph added 16 to help the Grizzlies beat the Rockets 115-109. … Anthony Davis had 28 points, a career-high 22 rebounds and four blocked shots, and the Pelicans overcame a 14-point deficit to beat the Heat 91-87. … DeMarcus Cousins scored 32 points, including 21 in the second half, and the Kings came back to beat the Timberwolves 109-105. … Giannis Antetokounmpo had a career-high 39 points and the Bucks had no trouble beating the Wizards 123-96. … Kyle Lowry took advantage of a depleted Utah guard corps by scoring a season-high 36 points, including 19 in the fourth quarter, to lead the Raptors to a 104-98 victory over the Jazz. DeMar DeRozan, had 24 points. … Eric Bledsoe scored 16 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter and had 11 assists, leading the Suns to a 123-116 come-from-behind victory over the 76ers. Devin Booker added 23 points for the Suns.