MIAMI — Russell Westbrook produced the 52nd triple-double of his career, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 106-94 victory over the Miami Heat on Tuesday night at AmericanAirlines Arena.
Westbrook, who is attempting to join Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson as the only NBA players to average a triple-double for an entire season, had 29 points, a season-high-tying 17 rebounds and 11 assists. He secured his triple-double with 6:40 left in the third quarter.
Westbrook has 15 triple-doubles this season — the rest of the league had 18 entering Tuesday. In addition to Westbrook’s customary heroics, Oklahoma City outscored Miami 58-32 in the paint. Contributing to that statistic were Thunder centers Enes Kanter (19 points) and Steven Adams (15 points).
The Heat fell to 5-12 at home this season despite a career high-tying 22 points from Josh Richardson. Miami played without starters Goran Dragic, Josh McRoberts and Dion Waiters.
Celtics 113, Grizzlies 103
BOSTON — Gerald Green came off the bench to score a season-high 19 points in less than 19 minutes and Boston won for the sixth time in its last seven games.
Avery Bradley scored 23 points and added seven rebounds and four assists, Isaiah Thomas had 21 points and seven assists and Jae Crowder 17 points for the Celtics, who beat Memphis for the second time in in eight days. Amir Johnson had nine of his 10 rebounds in the first half, while Marcus Smart had 13 points and six assists off the bench and Al Horford 11 points for Boston.
Marc Gasol scored 26 points, 16 in the first half, and added nine assists, Zach Randolph came off the bench with 16 points and 10 boards and former Celtic Tony Allen 17 points and eight rebounds for the Grizzlies. Memphis, which lost by 10 in Orlando on Monday night, suffered its first loss in nine second halves of back-to backs this season.