Westbrook leads Thunder over Knicks
By Everett Merrill, The Sports Xchange
NEW YORK -- Russell Westbrook recorded his third straight triple-double and eighth this season, pacing the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 112-103 win over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Monday night.
Westbrook scored 27 points, grabbed 18 rebounds and handed out 14 assists for the 45th triple-double of his career. He was 9 of 23 from the floor and 7 of 7 from the line.
Center Enes Kanter came off the Thunder (11-8) bench to score 27 points and pull down 10 rebounds in 28 minutes.
Derrick Rose scored his most points since coming to the Knicks (8-9), accumulating 30 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Kristaps Porzingis contributed 21 points and Carmelo Anthony added 18 points, but was just 4 of 19 from the floor.
A 9-2 run by the Thunder gave them a 110-101 advantage with 2:12 remaining.
After the Knicks cut the Thunder lead to 101-99 on a Courtney Lee 3-pointer, Westbrook found Andre Roberson open in the corner for a trey and a 104-99 Oklahoma City cushion with 3:47 to play.
New York got to within 99-96 on a basket and a three-pointer from Porzingis from the right corner with an assist from Rose at the 5:18 mark.
Westbrook scored seven points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out four assists to help Oklahoma City build an 88-81 third quarter lead.
He picked up the triple-double with an assist on a dunk by Victor Oladipo that moved the Thunder's lead to 64-55 with 10:41 left in the third. Westbrook's traditional three-point play gave the Thunder a 77-72 cushion with 4:55 left in the quarter.
He nearly had his triple-double in the first half, which the Thunder led 58-55. He recorded 14 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.
Kanter's mid-range jumper from Westbrook gave Oklahoma City its first lead, 52-51, since early in the game.
A 3-pointer from Porzingis at the top of the key extended the Knicks lead to 41-31 with 8:55 remaining in the second. He scored 14 points in the half.
The Knicks grabbed a 24-14 lead with 4:04 left in the first quarter on a layup from Rose, who delivered eight points and three assists in the quarter on the way to 14 points in the half.
NOTES: C Marshall Plumlee and F Lance Thomas were inactive for the Knicks. F Josh Huestis was inactive for the Thunder. ... Thunder G Russell Westbrook was second in the league in assists and scoring entering Monday's game. ... Knicks reserve C Willy Hernangomez leads all rookies in field goal percentage and is fourth in rebounding. ... Oklahoma City F Domantas Sabonis is fifth in scoring, fifth in field goal percentage and third in three-point field goal percentage among rookies through Sunday's games. ... The Knicks play the Timberwolves Wednesday in Minnesota and Friday at Madison Square Garden. ... Oklahoma City is home to the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.