Thunder claim 7th consecutive victory

Source:Agencies-Global Times Published: 2015-2-25 23:23:01

Westbrook bags 3rd triple-double


Russell Westbrook (left) of the Thunder shoots against the Pacers on Tuesday. Photo: CFP

Russell Westbrook registered his third triple-­double of the season as the Oklahoma City Thunder posted their seventh consecutive win with a 105-92 victory over Indiana on Tuesday.

Westbrook finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for the 11th triple-double of his career.

Serge Ibaka tallied 23 points with 10 rebounds and three blocks, while Enes Kanter added 15 points to the scoreboard with five rebounds.

"We know teams are going to make runs. We did a great job of sticking ­together," said Westbrook.

C.J. Miles scored 15 of his 21 in the third quarter and George Hill chipped in with 13 points and eight assists for the Pacers, who had a three-game win streak clipped.

Ibaka nailed a three-pointer late in the first quarter to cap a 7-0 surge for a 13-point Thunder lead. Oklahoma City lead 30-20 after the first quarter.

Indiana trailed by as many as 15 points in the second, but the Pacers went on an 11-2 burst to cut the deficit to six. Miles' jumper just before the half pulled the Pacers within 48-42 at halftime.

Oklahoma City maintained their edge in the third, but Indiana kept it close ­until the final minutes.

Westbrook drove for a layup with 3:20 remaining to spark a 12-4 quarter-­ending run that stretched Oklahoma City's lead to 80-69 going into the fourth.

The Thunder continued to play aggressively at the beginning of the fourth, as D.J. Augustin sunk a thee-­pointer ­prior to Anthony Morrow and Dion Waiters hitting deep shots to ­extend the lead to 20.

Also on Tuesday, Kevin Love equaled a career high with eight three-pointers to lift the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 102-93 win over the Detroit Pistons.

Love finished with 24 points on eight-of-14 shooting from beyond the arc and he grabbed nine rebounds as ­Cleveland won their third consecutive game.

LeBron James racked up 19 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds, while Kyrie Irving scored 18.

Reggie Jackson finished with 22 points and added nine assists and eight rebounds for the Pistons, who led by as many as 14 points early in the third ­quarter. The Pistons also had their two-game win streak stopped.



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