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Sports

Westbrook leads Thunder past Mavericks, 104-89

The Philippine Star

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Russell Westbrook had 34 points and 10 assists to help the Oklahoma City Thunder defeat the Dallas Mavericks 104-89 on Thursday night.

Serge Ibaka had 21 points and a career-high 22 rebounds and reserve guard Anthony Morrow added 16 points for the Thunder, who won for the sixth time in seven games. They moved into a tie with Phoenix for eighth place in the Western Conference.

The Thunder rolled, despite getting just 12 points from Kevin Durant.

Dirk Nowitzki had 14 points and Tyson Chandleradded 10 points and 13 rebounds for the Mavericks, who shot a season-low 36.3 percent from the field. Dallas point guard Rajon Rondo returned after missing six games with broken bones in his face. He finished with five points and six assists in 30 minutes.

The Thunder remained focused after a whirlwind day of trades. They sent talented backup point guard Reggie Jackson to Detroit and acquired Utah center Enes Kanter.

Morrow's long 2-pointer from the left corner as time expired in the first half gave the Thunder a 52-36 lead. He scored 14 points in the first half and made 6 of 11 shots.

Oklahoma City held Dallas to 29 percent shooting before the break and forced 13 turnovers. Dallas barely avoided its lowest-scoring half of the season.

Westbrook began creeping up on a triple double in the third quarter. His eighth assist, a pass to Ibaka for an alley-oop layup, put the Thunder up 58-36. He had 26 points and nine assists by the end of the third quarter to help the Thunder take an 83-65 lead.

Dallas closed the gap to 10 on a 3-pointer by Al Farouq-Aminu early in the fourth quarter, but the Mavericks never got closer.

TIP-INS

Mavericks: Newly acquired F Amare Stoudemire did not play. The team said he likely won't play until Sunday. ... Chandler returned after missing the last game before the break with a left ankle injury. ... Dallas matched a season-low for a second quarter with 17 points.

Thunder: The team was short at the center position. Steven Adams did not play because of an injured right hand, and Kendrick Perkins was traded earlier in the day. Nick Collison started and finished with two points and nine rebounds. ... Andre Roberson matched a career high with 12 rebounds.

UP NEXT

Mavericks: Host Houston on Friday.

Thunder: At Charlotte on Saturday.

AL FAROUQ-AMINU

ANDRE ROBERSON

ANTHONY MORROW

AT CHARLOTTE

DALLAS MAVERICKS

DIRK NOWITZKI

ENES KANTER

F AMARE STOUDEMIRE

HOST HOUSTON

POINTS

THUNDER

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