Thunder 102, 76ers 85
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Playing without Kevin Durant for the first time this season, the Oklahoma City Thunder pulled away in the fourth quarter on Friday night for a 102-85 victory over Philadelphia, beating the 76ers for the 12th consecutive time.
Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook produced his second triple-double of the season with 21 points, a career-high 17 rebounds and 11 assists. The NBA's No. 5 scorer was just 3 of 14 from the field late in the third quarter before hitting four shots in a row.
Philadelphia (0-9) took the game to Oklahoma City, jumping out to a 24-18 lead after the first quarter as forwards Nerlens Noel and Christian Wood each scored six points.
The Thunder grabbed the lead for good midway through the second quarter with an 8-0 run. Forward Nick Collison finished the spurt with a tip-in to give Oklahoma City its biggest advantage of the half at 39-32.
The Thunder led by four at halftime, but the Sixers refused to fold, closing the gap every time Oklahoma City threatened to pull away.
Philadelphia's last charge brought the Sixers within 62-61 before Westbrook took over. He led the Thunder on a 9-0 run to end the third quarter, scoring three straight buckets, including one on a spectacular steal and dunk.
That helped the Thunder (6-3) end the third quarter with a 71-61 advantage, and they went on to wrap up their third straight win.
Guard Anthony Morrow, starting in place of Durant, scored eight of his 12 points in the first quarter. Guard Dion Waiters added 14 points and forward Enes Kanter came off the bench to contribute 13 points and eight rebounds.
Wood topped the Sixers with 15 points, and Noel had 13 points and 11 boards. Rookie C Jahlil Okafor, averaging 20.6 points in his first eight NBA games, made only 3 of 18 shots from the field and finished with six points.
NOTES: Thunder F Kevin Durant missed the first of what is expected to be at least five games with a left-hamstring strain. The Thunder had started the same starting lineup in the first eight games. .... In Durant's absence, Anthony Morrow got his first start of the season, making the most of it by scoring eight points in the first eight minutes. ... It has been almost seven years since the Sixers defeated the Thunder. Their last victory over Oklahoma City came Nov. 15, 2008, at home. ... Sixers PG T.J. McConnell leads all NBA rookies in assists. He entered Friday night averaging 8.3 assists per game, which was fifth in the league overall.