Westbrook's 60th career triple-double lifts Thunder
NEW ORLEANS -- Russell Westbrook surpassed Larry Bird for fifth place in NBA history with his 60th career triple-double -- 27 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists -- to power the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 114-105 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night at the Smoothie King Center.
It was Westbrook's 23rd triple-double of the season and second in three victories over the Pelicans in 2016-17.
The victory wasn't easy for the Thunder (27-19), who led by 22 points in the second half but survived a 9-0 New Orleans run in the fourth quarter -- without the services of All-Star forward Anthony Davis -- that cut the lead to 105-100 with 5:33 left.
But Victor Oladipo nailed a 3-pointer from the left wing off Westbrook's 10th assist, and Oklahoma City outscored New Orleans 6-3 in the final 3:16.
The Pelicans (18-28) played the second half without Davis, who reinjured his right thigh late in the second quarter and finished with eight points and five rebounds. The Pelicans were led by guard E'Twaun Moore with 18 points.
Westbrook's 3-pointer early in the third quarter gave Oklahoma City its biggest lead of the game 67-45, but the Pelicans closed the quarter with a 37-25 run to cut their deficit to 92-82 entering the final period.
The Thunder dominated the Pelicans on the inside in the first half, building a 64-45 halftime lead on the strength of a 38-20 edge on points in the paint.
Westbrook accounted for 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists in the first half, and reserve center Enes Kanter added 13 points and eight rebounds before leaving the floor just before halftime after absorbing an inadvertent elbow from Davis in the head.
Kanter needed four stitches to close the gash below his left eye but returned for the second half
Davis missed Monday night's victory over Cleveland with a right thigh contusion, and he started slowly, missing 6 of his first 8 shots and then leaving the game when he reinjured the leg late in the first half. He did not return.
Oklahoma City crushed the Pelicans on the boards in the first half, 33-20.
NOTES: Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry, who was an assistant at Golden State, said European basketball has partially influenced the changing offensive style in the NBA to a more perimeter game, where big men can do more than play with their backs to the basket. "You've got guys coming into the league who are changing it," Gentry said, referring to Anthony Davis of New Orleans, Karl-Anthony Towns of Minnesota and Domantas Sabonis of Oklahoma City. "Those guys they play out on the floor and they're very skilled. They can make enough 3s to be concerned about. ... We now don't take guys when they're 12 years old and because they're the biggest kid and have them play with their back to the basket. International basketball has had a huge influence on that." ... Thunder coach Billy Donovan said he was happy that Sabonis was chosen to play on the world team in the Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star weekend. "The coaches have done a terrific with him in terms of his development, his growth," Donovan said. "He's getting thrown into situations where he's getting the opportunity to play."