Thunder bounce back with rout of Kings
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Russell Westbrook had 20 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 131-116 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Monday night.
Kevin Durant finished with 27 points, 10 rebounds and six assists as Oklahoma City bounced back from a difficult stretch. The Thunder had dropped four of five, including a heartbreaking overtime loss to Golden State on Saturday night.
Oklahoma City shot 57 percent (47 for 82) from the field, including a 14-for-34 performance from 3-point range. Enes Kanter scored 23 points on 11-for-11 shooting.
Sacramento has lost three in a row heading into a four-game road trip. DeMarcus Cousins had 35 points and 12 rebounds, and Rajon Rondo finished with 11 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds.
Rudy Gay, the Kings' second-leading scorer, missed the game after he strained his right shoulder during Friday's loss to the Clippers.
Gay and Rondo each had an MRI earlier in the day, and Rondo was listed as doubtful. But Rondo warmed up prior to the game and decided to play despite a sore right thumb that has been bothering him for around two weeks.
The game got physical early in the first quarter, with Cousins called for a backcourt foul after elbowing Steven Adams. A short time later, Sacramento's Quincy Acy was called for a technical foul, resulting in Cousins and Durant getting into a brief shoving match.
There was no suspense in Westbrook's ninth triple-double this season. It was completed by the midway point in the third quarter, running his total to 28 for his career.
Ahead by seven points, the Thunder put away the win with 10 straight points for a 107-90 lead early in the fourth period.
The Kings have dropped 10 of 14 since their season-high five-game win streak following a Jan. 23 victory over Indiana.
TIP-INS
Thunder: Westbrook had seven assists and six rebounds in the first quarter and nearly had a triple-double by halftime. ... Serge Ibaka had 12 points and seven rebounds.
Kings: Rondo was reluctant to inbound the ball twice with less than a second to play in the first half, resulting in two bizarre delay of game technicals. Durant converted a free throw each time, giving the Thunder a 61-53 lead at the break. ... Cousins was called for his 14th technical of the season late in the third quarter. ... Omri Casspi scored 16 points and Darren Collison had 12.
UP NEXT
Thunder: Road game Wednesday against Clippers.
Kings: Visit Memphis on Wednesday.