Russell Westbrook continued his MVP-caliber season on Monday night, recording a triple-double against the Sacramento Kings in a 131-116 victory for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Westbrook and Kevin Durant both contributed to the win, and the two superstars finished the game on the bench when things got out of hand in the fourth quarter. Westbrook finished the game with 20 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists, while Durant had 27 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and two steals. The Thunder had lost four of the past five games before winning over the Kings, improving to 42-18 on the season.
Westbrook has been playing at an extremely high level for the Thunder, and he recorded his ninth triple double of the season in the win. Enes Kanter had a strong game with 23 points, while Serge Ibaka contributed 12 points and seven rebounds. The Thunder have been shaping up as one of the best teams in the Western Conference this season, and they could give the Golden State Warriors a challenge in the playoffs.
"We played the right way. We didn't let the last game spill over to tonight," Westbrook said.
DeMarcus Cousins had a big game for the Kings in the loss, going for 35 points and 12 rebounds. Cousins and Thunder center Steven Adams battled each other during the game, and the two nearly came to blows late in the matchup. Cousins and Adams got tangled up while going for a rebound, with Cousins getting his ankle stuck under the left arm of Adams.
Video showed Cousins winding up for a punch behind Adams, but he restrained himself and did not strike the center. Adams did not appear to grab the ankle intentionally, but Cousins may not have realized that since his back was to Adams at the time. Cousins had previously left the game with an ankle injury, and he may have thought that Adams was trying to aggravate the injury.
Early in the game Cousins was called for a foul after elbowing Adams, and that likely started things off between the two big men. While Cousins kept his composure in that moment, he let it slip away soon after. He and Durant came together near center court, and Cousins was called for a technical foul after shoving the Thunder star.
"I actually was trying to break it up. But Kevin and I have respect for one another. Nothing else transpired," Cousins said. "After the game, he told me to get healthy and get my ankle together."
The Thunder are in third place in the Western conference with a 42-18 record after the win. The Kings are in 10th place in the standings at 24-34, sitting four games back of the Rockets for the final playoff spot.
