(SportsNetwork.com) - Russell Westbrook looks to continue his torrid pace when the Oklahoma City Thunder continue a four-game homestand versus the Los Angeles Clippers at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Westbrook has been playing lights-out basketball, posting five triple-doubles in his last six games. He has an NBA-best seven this season and 15 in his career with the Thunder going 13-2 in those games.
The speedy point guard, who's been wearing a mask to protect a facial fracture, is coming off Sunday's 108-104 win versus the Toronto Raptors and played 40 minutes, ending with 30 points, 17 assists and 11 rebounds.
"It crosses my mind when we win, which is the most important thing," said Westbrook, who leads the NBA with 27.4 points per game. He is averaging 33.1 points, 10.5 assists and 9.6 rebounds in his last 15 games.
During his six-game tear, Westbrook averaged 36.8 points, 11 assists and 12.2 rebounds. Since Feb. 4, Westbrook has reached the 40-point mark five times. He recorded four straight triple-doubles from Feb. 24 to March 4.
"He's playing unbelievable basketball right now," said Raptors guard Kyle Lowry. "The man is unbelievable, and he's pretty much carrying their team right now."
Westbrook is handling the load with superstar Kevin Durant nursing a balky foot and his teammates have noticed a difference.
"Man, he's just finding guys," said Thunder guard Anthony Morrow. "He's getting in the paint obviously whenever he wants and it's hard to stop him when he has a full head of speed in attack mode every time. He's really getting better and better each game at finding guys and reading defenses. He's doing a great job."
Oklahoma City has won three of four and 12 of the last 16 games, and is 21-8 at home. The Thunder are unbeaten in their last seven home games and received 21 points apiece from Serge Ibaka and Enes Kanter versus Toronto.
The Thunder, who will also host Minnesota and Chicago on the homestand, are eighth in the Western Conference standings.
Los Angeles will play back-to-back road games against Oklahoma City and Dallas, and stopped a two-game slide with Monday's 89-76 victory versus Minnesota at Staples Center.
J.J. Redick scored 26 points, DeAndre Jordan compiled 20 to go along with 17 rebounds, and both Matt Barnes and Austin Rivers scored 13 points for the Clippers, winners in eight of their last 12 games. Chris Paul scored only two points and handed out 15 assists.
"The difference of the game was that we got some separation in the second quarter," said Redick. "We did a nice job on some of their guys."
The Clippers have won 12 straight matchups with the Timberwolves, including three this season, and allowed a season-low 76 points.
Los Angeles is hoping forward Blake Griffin can make a return soon after undergoing elbow surgery. Griffin hasn't played since Feb. 6 and is nearing a return. Head coach Doc Rivers likes the progress Griffin has made and hopes to get him back by the end of the week.
"He's able to run," Rivers said. "Shooting, he's not doing much of that yet. We can't forget he had his arm in a cast for two weeks. And that's atrophy and everything else. I think it's really close, I do. But I don't want to say that and have him not come back for a month because it could be four days, it could be a month. I've never seen this, and I don't know the answer. As a coach, it's not one of those things you can plan for."
Clippers top reserve Jamal Crawford (calf) has missed the last three games and is out indefinitely.
LA has failed to reach 100 points in three straight and five of six games, and is averaging 106.0 ppg.
The Clippers, who sit fifth in the West, have a 17-14 road record and are 1-1 against the Thunder this season. OKC has won five of the last seven games in this series and is unbeaten in the past three as the host versus LA.
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