Thunder star eclipses Chamberlain with 32nd triple-double of season

OKLAHOMA CITY - Russell Westbrook broke a tie with Wilt Chamberlain and inched closer to Oscar Robertson on Saturday.

Westbrook had 33 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds for his 32nd triple-double of the season, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 112-104 victory over the Utah Jazz.

"We were just able to attack the basket," Westbrook said. "When they don't have any shot blockers, your job is to be able to take advantage of it, and I thought we did a good job."

Westbrook broke a tie with Chamberlain (1967-68) for the second-most triple-doubles in a season. Robertson set the all-time record of 41 in 1961-62.

Westbrook's milestone marks the most NBA games with double-digit totals in three or more statistical categories in more than half a century.

To match Robertson, Westbrook has 16 games remaining to manage nine more triple-doubles

"They are historic figures you are talking about - Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson - two of the greatest players to play the game," Thunder coach Billy Donovan said.

"They were impactful in the game. And I think that when Russell's career is done, whenever that is, he is a guy that you are going to look at and say that what he did throughout his career was historic."

Victor Oladipo added 22 points to help the Thunder win for the third time in four regular-season meetings with the Jazz.

"To play this game, you have to feel like you are the best," Oladipo said. "I feel like we are the best backcourt in the NBA."

Utah was without center Rudy Gobert and forward Derrick Favors because of leg soreness, and Gordon Hayward played only 21 minutes, finishing with nine points - 13 below his average.

The Thunder opened the second half with a 14-5 run to take a 23-point lead. Westbrook had four assists during the spurt.

Utah cut the deficit to seven points twice in the final seven minutes and had it down to six with 1:18 to go. Westbrook had a driving dunk with 37 seconds left to restore the double-digit advantage.

"They made a run, like good teams do, but I thought we did a good job in this game," Westbrook said.

Utah coach Quin Snyder used his entire available roster. Dante Exum scored 22 points on 7-for-8 shooting and played a team-high 27 minutes. Alec Burks added 21 points.

"All you want is for them is to come and compete," Snyder said. "Usually when you do that you can make some good things happen."

The Thunder shot 50 percent from the field (43 for 86). Westbrook went 9 for 26 and connected on 12 of 13 free-throw attempts.

The Jazz went 36 for 75 (48 percent) and hung around by going 9 for 20 from 3-point range. But Utah missed its final three 3-point attempts.

Tip-ins

Jazz: Guard George Hill returned after missing two games with a toe injury. Snyder said the six-day rest helped the nine-year veteran, who has missed 27 games this season due to injury or coach's decision ... The loss ended Utah's four-game winning streak and a two-game road winning streak.

Thunder: Forward Taj Gibson, who played in his ninth game since being acquired in a trade with the Chicago Bulls, was limited to 21 minutes due to a sore hip ... Oklahoma City is 5-1 in Saturday games this season ... The Thunder improved to 26-6 when Westbrook has a triple-double this season.

Associated Press

Magic no match for red-hot James

While the Cleveland Cavaliers are a work in progress heading toward the end of the season, LeBron James is rolling along just fine.

James had 24 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds as the Cavs halted a three-game losing streak with a 116-104 victory over the Orlando Magic on Saturday.

Kyrie Irving scored 22 points for Cleveland, which had seven players in double figures. Tristan Thompson had 14 points and 13 rebounds, while Iman Shumpert added 15 points.

"We've got some great possibilities," said James, who posted his career-best ninth triple-double of the season.

"We can never get too high or too low. We are getting guys acclimated and getting guys back into the system. It's a process for us, and we understand that."

The Cavaliers played without All-Star Kevin Love and Kyle Korver due to injuries. Love is recovering from knee surgery and Korver missed his second straight game with a sore left foot.

J.R. Smith made three of Cleveland's 15 3-pointers and finished with 11 points in his second game.

"We've still got to get Kevin back and Kyle back," coach Tyronn Lue said.

"We still have pieces to plug in to figure it out."

Associated Press