Westbrook has 51 points, triple-double as Thunder beat Suns
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – OCTOBER 28: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder reacts as Brandon Knight #11 of the Phoenix Suns applies pressure during the second half of a NBA game at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on October 28, 2016 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Thunder won 113-110 in overtime. J Pat Carter/Getty Images/AFP
OKLAHOMA CITY — Russell Westbrook had 51 points and a triple-double and scored the winning points in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 113-110 overtime victory over the Phoenix Suns on Friday night.
According to the Thunder, it was the first 50-point triple-double since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had one in 1975. Westbrook finished with 13 rebounds and 10 assists and took a career-high 44 shots.
Westbrook made a layup to put the Thunder up a point with 7.6 seconds remaining. Phoenix’s Devin Booker missed a layup and Westbrook was fouled. Westbrook scored his 50th and 51st points at the free-throw line with 3.5 seconds remaining. Booker missed a 3-pointer as time expired.
Westbrook was 17 of 44 from the field, 2 of 10 from 3-point range and made 15 of 20 free throws.
Westbrook has 38 career triple-doubles. He scored 39 points in the second half and overtime.
T.J. Warren had a career-high 30 points for the Suns.
The Suns led by 18 in the first quarter, but Oklahoma City held Phoenix to 5-for-26 shooting in the second quarter to cut it to 53-49.
Westbrook tied it at 59 on a layup and free throw early in the third, but the Suns responded with a 12-0 run. Westbrook kept the Thunder in it with 23 points in the third quarter on 7-for- 12 shooting, but the Suns led 83-77 heading into the fourth.
Westbrook returned from a rest with 8:50 remaining and the Thunder trailing 89-81. Four minutes later, his driving layup gave the Oklahoma City a 97-96 lead. Westbrook then found Roberson open, and Roberson’s 3-pointer pushed Oklahoma City’s lead to 102-98 with 2:39 to play.
Westbrook missed several chances to put the Thunder ahead in the closing seconds of regulation, and Phoenix held on to force overtime.
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TIP-INS
Suns: Coach Earl Watson played for the Thunder during the 2008-09 season. … The Suns led 31-13 in the first quarter and 40-25 at the end of the period. … Phoenix shot 69.6 percent in the first quarter and 19.2 percent in the second.
Thunder: Domantas Sabonis, a rookie, started in his first-ever regular-season home game. He finished with eight points on 4 for 6 shooting. … Backup point guard Cameron Payne sat out with a fractured right foot. … Westbrook was issued a technical in the third quarter, but it was taken away upon review. … Victor Oladipo scored 21 points.
STAT LINES
Westbrook’s averages through two games are 41.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and 9.5 assists.
UP NEXT
Suns: Sunday, they travel to Golden State to face former Thunder star Kevin Durant’s new team.
Thunder: Sunday, they host the Lakers and new coach Luke Walton.
