Westbrook's 32nd triple-double leads Thunder over Jazz
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Russell Westbrook collected his 32nd triple double of the season to lead Oklahoma City to a 112-104 victory over the Utah Jazz Saturday at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Westbrook posted 33 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists. It was his third triple-double against the Jazz this season.
Victory Oladipo added 22 points on 8 of 15 shooting. Enes Kanter came off the bench to score 16 points while Taj Gibson finished with 15 points and six rebounds. Oklahoma City improved to 37-29.
Dante Exum led the Jazz with 22 points. Alex Burks added 21 points and seven rebounds. No Utah starter reached double figures in scoring or rebounds as they fell to 41-25.
Led by their reserves, the Jazz trimmed Oklahoma City's 23-point advantage down to when Exum drove to the basket with 2:55 left in the fourth quarter. But Westbrook nailed a pair of free throws to give Oklahoma City a 105-96 advantage.
Westbrook then stole the ball and Exum was called for a clear path foul. He hit both attempts and the Thunder kept possession of the ball with 2:29 on the clock.
That led to Oladipo being fouled while driving to the rim. His free throw put Oklahoma City ahead 108-96.
Joel Bolomboy and Trey Burks scored the next four points to get the Jazz to within eight points.
Andre Robertson missed two free throws and Utah's Raul Nato came down for a layup to get deficit to six.
Westbrook hit another pair of free throw then came back with a one handed dunk to close out the game.
The Thunder won the rebound battle 43-36.
With no Rudy Gorbert in the lineup, Utah's offense revolved around Hayward and Johnson to start the afternoon.
Coach Billy Donovan tried to match up his best defender, Andre Roberson, on Hayward through the game. Whenever Hayward was on the court, Roberson was in game shadowing him and limiting his touches.
The same could not be said for Oladipo, who had the Jazz defense running in circles in the first half. He drained three 3-pointers and attacked his defender with strong drives down the lane for dunks.
But it was Westbrook's last second leaping tip in that put Oklahoma City up 62-48 at the half.
Westbrook reached his triple-double in the first few minutes of the third quarter. He went on to end the quarter with five points and five assists before he was taken out and Oklahoma City leading by 20.
Westbrook now has 16 games left to collect nine more triple-doubles and catch Oscar Robertson who has the all-time record with 41.
NOTES: Utah coach Quin Snyder couldn't make up his mind if playing Oklahoma twice in 11 days was a good or bad thing. "It can go either way," Snyder said. "I don't know how I would characterize it. It affects a little bit of your preparation because there not going to be that different from a week later. (Whether you won or lost the previous game,) it cuts both ways psychologically." ... This was the second time this season Oklahoma City played in a home game that started a 2 p.m. Thunder coach Billy Donovan says it hasn't been a problem. "I think in all these situations, everybody is dealing with the same thing," Thunder coach Billy Donovan said. "A 2 o'clock game for them is a 2 o'clock game for us."... Utah C Rudy Gobert (leg soreness) was a late scratch Saturday against Oklahoma City. Derrick Favors (knee) also sat out.