Westbrook's 18th triple-double carries Thunder past Grizzlies
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Russell Westbrook collected his 18th triple-double to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 103-95 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Westbrook tallied 24 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists. The 18 triple-doubles is the most by any player since Magic Johnson during the 1981-82 season.
Center Enes Kanter poured in 19 points and 13 rebounds. Victor Oladipo added 16 points on 5 of 10 shooting as the Thunder improved to 24-16.
Guard Mike Conley led the Grizzlies with 22 points and six assists. Chandler Parsons and Zach Randolph each scored 14 points as Memphis fell to 24-17
With 4:48 left in the game, Conley came up with a steal and layup to cut Thunder lead down to 85-82. But Kanter responded with a tough basket in traffic while being fouled. The ensuing free throw put the Thunder up by six.
After Randolph knocked in a quick shot, Westbrook threw up an airball. Randolph came back down and hit another jumper to close gap to 88-86.
A Kanter tip in put Oklahoma City back up by four. With 1:55 left, the Grizzlies Vince Carter missed a pair of free throws. Westbrook turned the ball over and Conley tried to make the Thunder pay with a long 3-pointer. But Adams came up with the blocked shot.
That led to Oladipo knocking down a dagger 3-pointer with 1:13 on the clock.
Tray Daniels missed a 3-pointer for the Grizzlies. Westbrook sprinted up court and passed off to Jerami Grant for a thunderous two-handed dunk and foul. Oklahoma City went by 10 with only 46 seconds left. The Thunder put the game away at the free-throw line.
After saying he felt disrespected by the Grizzlies in their previous matchup, Andre Roberson came out of the gates ready to back up his words.
Roberson hit 3 of 4 shots, grabbed three rebounds and swatted a blocked shot in the opening quarter.
Memphis went to its big lineup of Randolph teamed with Marc Gasol to slow down Oklahoma City. But it was forwards Carter and Parson who took up the scoring slack to keep the contest close.
Westbrook picked up his scoring late in the half as the Thunder extended their lead to 55-44 at halftime.
NOTES: Oklahoma City G Andre Roberson created a stir Tuesday when he said the team felt disrespected the first time they played Memphis. G Russell Westbrook, who was ejected from the first matchup, was asked Wednesday if he felt the same way. "I was in the shower," Westbrook said. "I wasn't watching the rest of that damn game. I was in the shower. But I definitely seen the film, and I'm with Dre. If Dre feels disrespected, I'm disrespected right along with him." ... Memphis coach David Fizdale saw the rise of the 3-point shot coming during his days as a coach in Miami. "I don't know if I saw that coming to the level that it's at," Fizdale said. "But I just kind of put two and two together. People were going to play smaller, then there's probably going to be more three's shot." ... Thunder coach Billy Donovan has seen improvement in the defense of Enes Kanter, which is keeping him on the floor longer. "He's made a lot of strides," Donovan said. "He's done a better job. I think the one thing I've tried to discuss with Enes, you never want to get into a situation where you are taken off the floor because of your defense."