Oklahoma City, OK (SportsNetwork.com) - Another game, another triple-double for Russell Westbrook.
Westbrook recorded his eighth triple-double of the season with 29 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds to help the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 113-99 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.
Westbrook supplied his third triple-double of the month in five games as he continues his lights out play while Kevin Durant is sidelined with a foot injury.
"(Russell) is just displaying his all-around game at a consistent level. That is the sign of a very special player, he does it every night," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said.
Enes Kanter had 23 points and 15 rebounds and Anthony Morrow added 13 for Oklahoma City, which tied New Orleans for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.
Thunder forward Serge Ibaka was out of the lineup with right knee soreness. Mitch McGary stepped in and had 12 points for the hosts in a rare start.
OKC has won 11 straight at home over Minnesota and six straight overall.
Gorgui Dieng led the Timberwolves with 21 points and 14 rebounds and Andrew Wiggins added 19 points and five boards.
"We just need to stick together. The injuries hurt us, but you just need to keep playing through it," Dieng said.
Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic missed the game with a bum ankle and point guard Ricky Rubio played four minutes into the second half before exiting with an ankle injury.
Oklahoma City brought a 55-49 lead into the locker room at half thanks to Westbrook's buzzer-beating 3-pointer.
Kevin Martin, who scored 14 points, opened the second half with a basket, then the Thunder busted off nine straight to claim a double-digit lead. Minnesota worked its way back and cut the deficit to 79-72 entering the fourth on a Zach LaVine trey.
The Timberwolves closed to within seven with just over seven minutes left in the final quarter. Steven Adams then converted a three-point play prior to Westbrook knocking down a wide open 3-pointer to extend the margin to 95-82. Westbrook's bank shot over a minute later made it a 13-point spread and the Thunder cruised the rest of the way.
Game Notes
The Timberwolves have lost three straight ... OKC has scored at least 100 points in a team-record 18 straight games ... Westbrook has six triple-doubles in the last eight games ... Kanter has five double-doubles since being acquired from OKC at the trade deadline ... Justin Hamilton had 17 points and 10 rebounds off the bench for Minnesota ... The Timberwolves have not won in OKC since Nov. 2, 2008.
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