Westbrook has triple-double, leads OKC comeback for OT win

By foxsports
Published

DENVER (AP) -- Russell Westbrook had 36 points, 18 assists and 12 rebounds for his sixth triple-double, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Denver Nuggets 132-129 in overtime on Friday night.

Westbrook scored 24 points in the fourth quarter and overtime to help the Thunder rally from 13 down and end a three-game losing streak. His 18 assists were a season high.

Victor Oladipo had 26 points for the Thunder.

Westbrook scored 17 points in the fourth quarter to start the comeback. His two free throws with 9.5 seconds left made it 122-119, but Denver tied it when Steven Adams fouled Jamal Murray on a 3-point attempt and the rookie hit the free throws.

Kenneth Faried blocked Westbrook's layup at the horn to send it into overtime.

Wilson Chandler finished with a season-high 30 points and 11 rebounds. Jameer Nelson had 21 points and 13 assists, both season highs, for the Nuggets.

Oladipo hit two free throws to put the Thunder ahead 128-126 in overtime. The Nuggets had a chance to tie in the final 20 seconds but Chandler missed a layup and Westbrook hit two more free throws with 13.7 seconds left.

TIP-INS

Thunder: Westbrook had seven turnovers. ... Oklahoma City has used the same starting lineup in all 17 games.

Nuggets: Denver had just 10 players active. Mike Miller and Will Barton were away from the team for personal reasons. Danilo Gallinari (right thigh), Juancho Hernangomez (right ankle sprain) and Gary Harris were all out. ... Denver Broncos Hall of Famer and current team executive John Elway was sitting courtside.

SCARY MOMENT

Murray took a hard fall when he was fouled on a dunk attempt. He was on the floor for a few minutes but got up and hit the two free throws.

OLD SCHOOL

Nuggets coach Michael Malone expressed plenty of admiration for Westbrook before the game. Malone likened the NBA's leading scorer to a bruiser from the days when the league was known for its rough play.

"I think he's a throwback player," Malone said. "I think he's a guy that would have excelled back in the `80s, which is my favorite period of the NBA when (there wasn't) all this lovey-dovey, hug-and-kissing and no hard fouls. There were real rivalries and everything earned and every game you won had to be earned."

UP NEXT

Thunder: Host Detroit on Saturday.

Nuggets: At Phoenix on Sunday.