NEW YORK – Russell Westbrook got his third straight triple-double and nearly did it by halftime, finishing with 27 points, 18 rebounds and 14 assists for his NBA-leading eighth of the season as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the New York Knicks, 112-103, on Monday night.
Westbrook had 14 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists at the break and is now averaging a triple-double for the season, raising his averages to 30.9 points, 11.3 assists and 10.3 rebounds through more than a month of the season.
Enes Kanter added a season-high 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Steven Adams had 14 points and 10 boards in the Thunder’s third straight victory.
Derrick Rose scored a season-best 30 points, but the Knicks had their six-game home winning streak snapped. Kristaps Porzingis added 21 points and Carmelo Anthony had 18, but shot just 4-for-19.
Westbrook fell just shy of his third straight 15-assist game, but had his highest rebound total of the season – and one off his career best – to keep the Thunder rolling as they’ve rebounded nicely from a recent three-game skid.
Thunder: They are 11-5 against the Knicks since moving to Oklahoma City in 2008. … Coach Billy Donovan grew up in New York and played one season for the Knicks in 1987-88. He said he wasn’t sure how many family members and friends would be attending the game.
Knicks: Coach Jeff Hornacek said reserve F Lance Thomas, who hasn’t played since Nov. 12 because of a left ankle injury, has been working on the exercise bike and shooting and could be back at practice soon, though there is no timetable for his return to games.
The Thunder are in the midst of a five-game stretch in which they won’t play consecutive games in the same time zone. They came to New York for essentially a one-game road trip in between home games Saturday and Wednesday.
Thunder: Host Washington on Wednesday, their first game against former Oklahoma City Coach Scott Brooks.
Knicks: Visit Minnesota on Wednesday to start another home-and-home set, with the return game at Madison Square Garden on Friday. New York just played a home-and-home against Charlotte last week.