Westbrook Scores 27 As Thunder Win, 127-117, Over Lakers
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — NBA scoring leader Russell Westbrook poured in 27 points and added 11 assists and Enes Kanter contributed 25 points and 16 rebounds as the Thunder beat the Lakers, 127-117, on Tuesday night for their fourth straight victory.
For the second straight game, Kanter got off to a fast start, recording a double-double in the first quarter with 15 points and 10 rebounds as Oklahoma City raced out to a 37-27 lead. Kanter has scored 52 points and grabbed 28 rebounds in his last two games.
After trailing by 15 at the half, the Lakers closed to 70-61, with Jordan Clarkson and Jeremy Lin sparking a brief rally, as the Lakers went on an 8-2 mini-run out of the locker room.
That's when Westbrook went to work, scoring twice in 15 seconds on his way to 14 third-quarter points. Denied his 10th triple-double of the season with a scoring change after Sunday's win over Miami, Westbrook didn't come close in this game, grabbing just two rebounds. He sat most of the fourth quarter, playing just 29 minutes.
Westbrook's teammates made up the difference . The Thunder, the NBA's best rebounding team, crushed the Lakers 49-28 on the boards. Steven Adams joined Kanter in the double-double category with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Dion Waiters added 23 points and Anthony Morrow had 12 off the bench.
Oklahoma City led 100-88 after three quarters and the Lakers got no closer than the final 10-point deficit the rest of the way.
Clarkson led all scorers with 30 points and Lin had 19, as the Lakers lost for the 10th time in their last 12 games.
SEEING DOUBLE
Kanter became the first Thunder player ever to record a double-double in the first quarter. He now has six 20-point, 10-rebound games in an OKC uniform. Prior to his arrival, no Thunder player had ever recorded a single 20/10 game.
LOCAL HERO
NCAA football single-game rushing record holder Samaje Perine attended the game. Perine plays for nearby University of Oklahoma.
TIP-INS
Lakers: This was the first of two games without coach Byron Scott, who attended the funeral of his mother, Dorothy, on Monday. Scott also will miss the next game at Minnesota.
Thunder: Swept the series from the Lakers for the first time since the franchise arrived in Oklahoma City. The Thunder has now won the season series four years in a row.
NEXT UP
Lakers: Visit the Timberwolves on Wednesday
Thunder: Visit San Antonio on Wednesday
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