Westbrook scores 43 as Thunder beat Pelicans 110-103
Russell Westbrook scored 43 points, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the New Orleans Pelicans 110-103.
The Thunder took control with a 20-7 run in the second quarter and led by as many as 14.
The Pelicans got within 97-94 on Luke Babbitt’s corner 3-pointer with 3:25 to play, but Westbrook answered with a three-point play, and the Pelicans got no closer than 107-103.
Enes Freedom had 24 points (16 in the paint) and 14 rebounds off the bench.
For the Pelicans, Ryan Anderson scored 30 points, and Eric Gordon went 1 for 9 from 3.
The Pelicans gave up 16 offensive rebounds, about 5 more than usual for the shots the Thunder missed. The Thunder outscored the Pelicans 44-22 off the bench. The Thunder outscored the Pelicans 30-18 in 12 minutes with Collison, Augustin, Freedom, Singler and Waiters on the floor together. Dante Cunningham fouled out.