Thunder 110, Pelicans 103
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Guard Russell Westbrook scored 43 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 110-103 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans Wednesday at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.
The win ended a two-game losing streak for the Thunder, who improved to 7-5 on the season. The Pelicans' struggles continued as they dropped to a league-worst 1-11.
Westbrook shot 14 of 25 from the field to go along with eight assists and nine rebounds. Center Enes Kanter came off the Thunder bench to pour in 24 points and 14 rebounds.
Forward Ryan Anderson paced the Pelicans with 30 points on 13 of 25 shooting. Guards Eric Gordon and Ish Smith each scored 18 points.
With seven minutes left in the game, Anderson closed the gap to 90-84 with a putback.
Guard DJ Augustine drained a 3-pointer to put the Thunder up by nine. A Kanter putback gave the home team an 11-point advantage with 5:30 left on the clock.
After Gordon and Smith hit back-to-back layups, and Anderson drained a 3-pointer, the lead was down to six. Forward Luke Babbit's 3-pointer made it a three-point contest with 3:24 left.
Oklahoma City followed the same script it had during each of its defeats this season -- have the lead in the fourth then watch as the opposing team comes back.
But Westbrook competed a three-point play to push the lead back to six. He followed that with a fast-break layup.
Anderson knocked down a 3-pointer with 24 seconds left to get the Pelicans to within four points. But forward Serge Ibaka's pair of free throws closed the game out for Oklahoma City.
The Thunder outrebounded the Pelicans 50-40 and only turned the ball over 14 times.
NOTES: New Orleans F Anthony Davis was inactive Wednesday against Oklahoma City after reinjuring his left shoulder Tuesday night at Denver. Davis had returned just one game earlier from a two-game absence caused by a hip injury. "It's just discomfort and having trouble raising his arm up," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said. "As tough as it is for us, and what we're going through, we still have got to think long term. This is not anything anybody enjoys going through. But it is what it is." ... Oklahoma City F Kevin Durant took part in full court shooting drills Wednesday morning during the team's shoot-around. Durant has been sideline with a strained left hamstring and has missed four consecutive games. "He is doing more than he was a week ago," Thunder coach Billy Donovan said. "How close he is to a return? I'm not really sure of that." ... Due to various injuries, the Pelicans had only nine players in uniform against the Thunder.