Thunder beats Heat behind Westbrook's 15th triple-double of season
MIAMI -- Russell Westbrook produced the 52nd triple-double of his career, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 106-94 victory over the Miami Heat on Tuesday night at AmericanAirlines Arena.
Westbrook, who is attempting to join Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson as the only NBA players to average a triple-double for an entire season, had 29 points, a season high-tying 17 rebounds and 11 assists. He secured his triple-double with 6:40 left in the third quarter.
He has 15 triple-doubles this season -- the rest of the league had 18 entering Tuesday.
In addition to Westbrook's customary heroics, the Thunder (20-12) outscored Miami 58-32 in the paint. Contributing to that statistic were Thunder centers Enes Kanter (19 points) and Steven Adams (15 points).
Oklahoma City also had a 16-4 edge on fast-break points and a 46-32 rebounding advantage.
Miami (10-22) fell to 5-12 at home this season despite a career high-tying 22 points from Josh Richardson.
The Heat played without starters Goran Dragic, Josh McRoberts and Dion Waiters. In addition, the Heat momentarily lost guard Tyler Johnson in the fourth quarter when he jammed fingers on his shooting hand against the backboard. But Johnson quickly returned.
Miami got two players off the injured list -- Rodney McGruder (left ankle) and Wayne Ellington (right hamstring).
McGruder, who had missed three straight games, scored seven points. Ellington, who missed four straight games, did not score.
The injury to the 29-year-old McRoberts, who is in the third season of a four-year $22.6 million deal, was the most serious blow to Miami because it could keep him out for a while.
McRoberts, who missed 88 games the past two years, started 14 consecutive contests until this last bit of bad news.
Oklahoma City, shooting 56.0 percent, rushed to a 33-19 lead in the first quarter.
The Thunder shot 63.2 percent in the second quarter, when they led by as many as 22 points.
Oklahoma City extended its lead to 87-69 after three quarters. The Thunder held Miami to 39.1 percent shooting in the third.
The Thunder, who shot 51.2 percent from the floor, was never seriously challenged in the fourth.
NOTES: Thunder SG Victor Oladipo, who is second on the team in scoring (16.1 points per game), missed his eighth straight game (right wrist). ... Thunder PG Russell Westbrook leads all NBA players in scoring and is No. 1 in rebounding among guards. The only NBA player to average a triple-double for an entire season was Oscar Robertson in 1961-1962, when he produced 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and a league-best 11.4 assists. In 1981-82, Magic Johnson came close, averaging 18.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 9.5 assists. ... Heat SG Josh Richardson shot 46.1 percent on 3-pointers last season but is shooting 30.9 percent this season. ... Miami SG Dion Waiters (groin) hasn't played since Nov. 26.