NBA GAME RECAPS

NBA Recaps: Westbrook posts 35th triple-double

The Sports Xchange

March 22, 2017 at 7:47 pm.

Mar 22, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives to the basket in front of Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington (33) during the third quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Photo Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Mar 22, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives to the basket in front of Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington (33) during the third quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Photo Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

OKLAHOMA CITY — Russell Westbrook recorded his 35th triple-double of the season to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 122-97 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.

Westbrook scored 18 points — going 6 of 6 from the field and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line — in only 27 minutes. He also recorded 14 assists and 11 rebounds. Westbrook didn’t attempt a 3-pointer for the first time since March 14, 2016, a span of 83 games.

Oklahoma City’s Enes Kanter wasn’t perfect from the field, but was close. He scored 24 points on 8-of-9 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds off the bench. Victor Oladipo scored 18 points for the Thunder.

The 76ers were paced by Nik Stauskas, who came off the bench to score 20 points.

Hornets 109, Magic 102

ORLANDO, Fla. — Reserve forward Frank Kaminsky scored 18 points, including 13 in the decisive fourth quarter, in sparking Charlotte to a victory over Orlando.

The Hornets won their third consecutive game and kept their slim playoff hopes alive. The Magic lost to the Hornets for the fourth time this season.

Kemba Walker led the Hornets with 22 points and added seven assists. Reserve Marco Belinelli scored 20 points, including 16 in a five-minute, second quarter stretch.

Celtics 109, Pacers 100

BOSTON — Boston, playing its first game after clinching a playoff spot, cruised to a victory over Indiana. The Celtics, who officially made the playoffs when the Chicago Bulls lost to the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night, scored 39 points in the third quarter en route to their 12th win in their last 13 home games.

Boston led by 17 points two minutes into the fourth quarter before the Pacers used a 10-0 run that grew to 13-2 to get as close as six. Indiana went cold and could get no closer.

Isaiah Thomas scored 25 points and dished out five assists, and Avery Bradley had 18 points and eight rebounds for the Celtics. Al Horford had 15 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, Jae Crowder recorded 15 points and six boards, and Kelly Olynyk registered 11 points and eight boards for Boston.

Bulls 117, Pistons 95

CHICAGO — Chicago didn’t have its top two centers, but the Bulls kept their playoff hopes alive with a victory against Detroit at the United Center.

Paced by Nikola Mirotic’s 28 points, the Bulls pulled even with the Pistons for ninth in the Eastern Conference. Both teams are 1 1/2 game behind the Miami Heat for the conference’s eighth and final playoff spot.

Chicago didn’t have starting center Robin Lopez, who served a one-game suspension for a fight Tuesday with Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka. The Bulls were also without his main backup, Cristiano Felicio, who injured his back against the Raptors.

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