SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Two nights later, the Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t need to worry about a Curry making life miserable. They also had guard Russell Westbrook doing that very thing to the Sacramento Kings.
Westbrook tallied his ninth triple-double of the season before the end of the third quarter Monday, and he finished with 20 points, 15 assists and 13 rebounds as the Thunder shook off a miserable loss by blitzing the Kings 131-116 at Sleep Train Arena.
Oklahoma City won for just the second time in six games in its first contest since Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry lit them up for 12 3-pointers, including a 38-footer with six-tenths of a second left in overtime to beat the Thunder 121-118 Saturday.
Westbrook trails only Warriors forward Draymond Green (11) for the league lead in triple-doubles this season, and the 28th of his career broke a tie with Kings guard Rajon Rondo for the second most among active players.
Thunder center Kevin Durant, whose foul at the end of regulation against the Warriors led to the overtime, added 27 points and 10 rebounds against the Kings. Oklahoma City (42-18) used a 14-3 surge early in the final quarter to pull away.
Kings center DeMarcus Cousins finished with a game-high 35 points and added 12 rebounds despite playing much of the second half on a tender left foot. The Kings (24-34) already were short-handed before that development, with forward Rudy Gay (strained right shoulder) and guard Seth Curry (sprained right ankle) missing the game due to injuries.
Cousins injured the foot when he landed awkwardly on an opponent’s shoe after trying a reverse layup with just over 10 minutes left in the third quarter. He struggled to get off the floor and after several minutes walked gingerly off the court. He returned after getting the ankle taped and scored 12 more points, but Kings coach George Karl pulled him with about four minutes left and the game decided.
Rondo played despite tendinitis in his right thumb and recorded 11 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds.
Forward Enes Canter added 23 points, and guard Dion Waiters scored 22 on 8-for-11 shooting off the bench for the Thunder. Sacramento reserve forward Omri Casspi scored 16 on 7-for-10 shooting.
NOTES: Kings G Rajon Rondo (right thumb tendinitis) and F Rudy Gay (right shoulder strain) underwent MRI exams that confirmed their injuries. Gay did not play Monday, and his status for Wednesday’s contest at Memphis is uncertain. … The Thunder played the first of four consecutive road games, a stretch that matches their longest of the season. The next two come against the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors on Wednesday and Thursday. Oklahoma City will return home to practice before going to Milwaukee to close the trip Sunday. … Kings G Seth Curry (sprained right ankle) sat out after setting a season-high for minutes (25:58) on Friday in a loss to the Clippers. Curry had totaled only 24:36 of playing time in his previous six appearances, and coach George Karl has hinted he needs to find him more minutes.