Thunder roll by Cavaliers
Russell Westbrook scored 29 points and had his 26th triple-double of the season to help the Thunder beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, 118-109, last night in Oklahoma City.
Westbrook added 12 rebounds and 11 assists in the 63rd triple-double of his career.
Victor Oladipo scored 23 points and Steven Adams had 20 points and 13 rebounds for the Thunder, who now can focus on their showdown with former teammate Kevin Durant and the Golden State Warriors tomorrow.
Kyrie Irving scored 28 points, LeBron James had 18 and Kevin Love added 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who had won four straight. Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said after Wednesday’s win at Indiana that he was considering resting the three All-Stars, but they all started.
Mavericks 112, Jazz 105 — Harrison Barnes scored 31 points, including eight in overtime, and host Dallas rallied from a 21-point deficit to beat Utah.
Barnes’ three-point play ended an 11-0 run that began late in regulation and put Dallas ahead 107-100. Devin Harris scored the first four points of OT.
Utah’s Gordon Hayward scored a season-high 36 points, but missed a 3-point attempt from the left corner as regulation ended.
76ers 112, Magic 111 — T.J. McConnell made the goahead jumper with 5.8 seconds remaining, Dario Saric came off the bench to score 24 points and visiting Philadelphia beat Orlando.
McConnell’s basket in the lane came after Ersan Ilyasova won the jump ball against Evan Fournier in the waning moments of a game that featured 10 lead changes and five ties before the Sixers completed their final rally.
Moments earlier, Magic center Nikola Vucevic had blocked Ilyasova’s shot in the corner with 13 seconds remaining and Orlando holding a one-point lead.
Ilyasova was the only starter in double figures with 16 points for Philadelphia. Rockets 107, Hornets 95 — James Harden had 30 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, and Houston beat host Charlotte for its third straight win. It was the 25th time Harden has scored at least 30 points.
Harden was just 8-of-21 from the field and had nine turnovers, but turned up his play a notch down the stretch as the Rockets overcame a nine-point, third-quarter deficit.
The Rockets forced the Hornets into a season-high 22 turnovers, leading to 27 points.
Patrick Beverly had 17 points and Montrezl Harrell added 15 off the bench for the Rockets (39-17)
Nic Batum had 15 points and 10 assists for the Hornets, who have lost eight of their last nine.
Elsewhere in the NBA — Bucks star Jabari Parker has suffered a season-ending left knee injury for the second time in three years. Parker will need surgery after tearing the ACL in the Bucks’ 116-88 loss to Miami on Wednesday.