OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Russell Westbrook’s second triple-double of the season and 10th of his career helped the Oklahoma City Thunder defeat the Orlando Magic 104-97 on Monday night without the injured Kevin Durant.
Westbrook, an All-Star point guard, had 25 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds.
Durant sat out with a sprained big toe on his left foot. He has played in just 22 games this season, having missed time earlier in the season with a sprained right ankle and a broken bone in his right foot.
Dion Waiters scored 24 points and Serge Ibaka added 16 for the Thunder, who snapped a two-game skid and evened their record at 24-24.
Victor Oladipo scored 22 points and Nikola Vucevic scored 20 points for the Magic, who lost their ninth straight.
Westbrook had 12 points, five assists, three rebounds and three steals in the first quarter to help the Thunder take a 29-22 lead at the end of the period. He had five more assists in the second quarter to help Oklahoma City take a 61-50 lead at halftime.
Westbrook stole the ball, then found Andre Roberson on the break for a dunk that gave the Thunder a 70-50 lead. Oklahoma City held the Magic scoreless for the first 5:19 of the third quarter.
Westbrook chased down his ninth rebound, then sped down the court for a layup that put the Thunder up 79-60. He snagged his 10th rebound in the final minute of the third quarter to clinch the triple-double, and the Thunder led 82-67 heading into the fourth.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Willie Green trimmed Oklahoma City’s lead to eight, but Westbrook calmly hit a jumper from near the free-throw line with just under a minute to play to keep the Thunder in control.
TIP-INS
Magic: Oladipo, who sat out the previous game Saturday against Dallas with a sore right Achilles, started. … Aaron Gordon had six rebounds in the first quarter, matching his career high for an entire game. He finished with eight. … Orlando had 11 offensive rebounds and 16 second-chance points in the first half. … Orlando made just 7 of 22 shots in the third quarter.
Thunder: F Perry Jones sat out with an ankle injury. … Waiters got his first start for the Thunder since he was acquired from Cleveland. … The Thunder made all 14 of their free throws in the first half.
UP NEXT
Magic: At Spurs on Wednesday.
Thunder: At Pelicans on Wednesday.
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