Oklahoma City: Russell Westbrook finished with 49 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists and became the first player since Michael Jordan with four straight triple doubles as Oklahoma City beat Philadelphia 123-118 in overtime.
Westbrook played with a clear plastic face mask in his return after missing the last Thunder game with a facial fracture that required surgery.
“It is definitely a blessing,” Westbrook said. “It is more important that we are winning games. That’s the most important part.”
Westbrook recorded his 10th assist on D.J. Augustin’s three-pointer, which came just under two minutes into overtime and gave the Thunder the lead for good.
Westbrook made two foul shots with 6.3 seconds remaining to pass his previous career high in points, which he set just last month.
“For those of you, including myself, that thought Russell might need a few games to get used to the mask, we were wrong. He was all over the floor, another triple double,” said Thunder coach Scott Brooks.
Westbrook became the first player in at least the last 30 years with 49 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists in a game. He is the first with four straight triple-doubles since Jordan had seven in a row from March 25-April 6, 1989.
The Thunder earned a sixth consecutive win at home. They are 5-2 with reigning NBA MVP Kevin Durant sidelined because of a foot injury.
Dion Waiters came off the bench to score 20 points and 10 rebounds while Augustin scored 17, for the Thunder who also won for the ninth time in 11 games.
Isaiah Canaan scored a career high 31 points, making his first five three-pointers and hitting eight of Philly’s 15 threes. Jason Richardson had 29 points, Luc Mbah added 18 points and 14 rebounds and Jerami Grant scored 14 off the bench for Philadelphia, who have dropped three in a row and eight of their last nine.
The 76ers led by as many as 15 points early in the contest and by 16 in the third quarter, but they couldn’t overcome a slow start in the fourth quarter and the offensive juggernaut Westbrook.
Philadelphia coach Brett Brown was unhappy with the loss but said he liked the way his team battled to the end.
“It is the same thing we’ve been saying all year, there is no back down in the group,” Brown said. “The thing that I most get pleased with is that no matter who comes in the locker room, there is enough carry over with the people that we have to help recreate and explain the culture.”
