DENVER (Colorado) • Russell Westbrook is forever linked to team-mate Kevin Durant, but now the All-Star guard has joined elite company with another big night.
Westbrook had 13 points, 12 assists and 14 rebounds for his 17th triple-double of the National Basketball Association season, and the Oklahoma City Thunder routed the Denver Nuggets 124-102 on Tuesday night.
He recorded his eighth triple-double since the beginning of March and the 35th of his career. He is the first player to have 17 triple-doubles in a season since Magic Johnson did it for the Los Angeles Lakers in 1988-89.
"It's a great honour," Westbrook said. "Whenever you're mentioned in the same sentence as Magic, it's always great."
Meanwhile, Durant had 26 points and eight assists for Oklahoma City (54-24), who clinched the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.
Enes Kanter had 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Dion Waiters and Serge Ibaka scored 18 apiece for the Thunder.
Westbrook did not turn the ball over in the third quarter after having five in the first half.
"Turnovers in the first half were my fault," he said. "I made a conscious effort in the second half to not turn the ball over."
He did enough to impress his team-mates.
"Every time I see him on the floor, it could be a historic night," Anthony Morrow said.
"I tell him every day that it's unbelievable seeing him do this and I want him to keep it going."
REUTERS
