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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook drives between Cleveland Cavaliers’ guard Kyrie Irving (L) and forward LeBron James during their NBA game in Oklahoma City Thursday. — AP
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OKLAHOMA — The relentless Russell Westbrook produced his 26th triple-double of the season Thursday to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 118-109 triumph over the NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers.
Westbrook poured in 29 points with 11 assists and 12 rebounds. Victor Oladipo added 23 points and seven rebounds and center Steven Adams of New Zealand added 21 points and 13 rebounds for Oklahoma City, who improved to 31-23.
Kyrie Irving led the Cavs with 28 points. LeBron James chipped in 18 to go with seven assists but was held scoreless in the fourth quarter.
Irving’s layup tied it at 99-99 with less than six minutes remaining, but two Westbrook baskets put Oklahoma City up 103-99 with 4:59 to play.
Irving answered with a driving layup, but after a Westbrook jump shot, Thunder reserve Jerami Grant blocked a shot at the other end. Westbrook sank another jumper to stretch Oklahoma City’s lead to 107-101 with 3:42 remaining.
James missed a fadeaway jumper before Westbrook fed Adams for an easy basket. After another block, Westbrook had the ball again, dishing to Oladipo for a layup that gave Westbrook his 10th assist and clinched his triple-double.
Westbrook matched the third-highest total for triple-doubles in a season. Oscar Robertson collected 26 in 1960-61 and 1963-64.
Only Robertson, with 41 in 1961-62, and Wilt Chamberlain, with 31 in 1967-68, have posted more in a campaign.
Celtics 120, Trail Blazers 111
Isaiah Thomas bombed in 34 points and the Boston Celtics scored 43 fourth-quarter points to record a 120-111 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Thomas scored 32 of his points after the first quarter to lead seven Celtics in double-figure scoring. Marcus Smart had 18 points and Jaylen Brown 14 for Boston.
Damian Lillard scored 28 points and Al-Farouq Aminu added a season-high 26 for the Trail Blazers.
Rockets 107, Hornets 95
James Harden had 30 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, while the Houston Rockets dominated the second half for a victory over the Charlotte Hornets despite playing an eight-man rotation due to injuries.
Harden finished 8-of-21 from the field with four three-pointers. Patrick Beverley added 17 points for Houston, and Montrezl Harrell scored 15.
The Hornets lost for the eighth time in nine games. They were plagued by a season-worst 22 turnovers that the Rockets converted into 27 points.
Nicolas Batum led Charlotte with 15 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds.
76ers 112, Magic 111
Rookie Dario Saric scored a career-high 24 points, and T.J. McConnell hit the winning layup with 5.8 seconds remaining as Philadelphia beat Orlando.
Evan Fournier led the Magic with 24 points and eight assists, and he pulled down nine rebounds.
Orlando’s Nikola Vucevic had 21 points and 11 rebounds. McConnell finished with eight points and eight assists, while Ersan Ilyasova had 16 points for the Sixers.
Mavericks 112, Jazz 105 (OT)
Dirk Nowitzki’s jumper with 2.8 seconds left in regulation sent the game to overtime after his side had rallied from 21 points down in the second half.
Dallas’ Harrison Barnes scored a team-high 31, including eight in overtime, and Nowitzki had 20 points.
Seth Curry had 16 points, including a personal 5-0 spurt that tied the game 96-96 with 59.2 seconds left.
Utah’s Gordon Hayward had a season-high 36-points and had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation but missed a three-point try from the corner. — Agencies
