Slice of history

Westbrook ties Chamberlain’s triple double

OKLAHOMA CITY – Russell Westbrook became just the second player in NBA history to have 20 points, 20 rebounds and 20 assists in a game as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 119-103 Tuesday night.

Westbrook clinched the mark with a rebound in the final minute, drawing a large ovation from the home crowd. He finished with 20 points, 20 rebounds and 21 assists.

Wilt Chamberlain is the only other player to accomplish the feat. He had 22 points, 25 rebounds and 21 assists in a game in 1968.

Westbrook had at least 15 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists for the eighth time in his career, tying Chamberlain for second-most all-time. Oscar Robertson had 14 such games in his career.

Westbrook finished 8 of 23 from the field as Oklahoma City won for the third time in its last 10 games.

In Oakland, California, Kevin Durant emphatically showed who is still No. 1 in the West, delivering a pair of jarring dunks late in the first half and finishing with 21 points and six assists before being ejected to lead the Golden State past Denver 116-99  in a matchup of the top teams in the conference.

DeMarcus Cousins had a season-best 28 points, on 12-for-17 shooting, 13 rebounds, five assists and two blocks for the Warriors (53-24), who have a two-game lead and the tiebreaker on Denver (51-26) with five games to go in the chase for the Western Conference’s top seed and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

Stephen Curry added 17 points, five rebounds and five assists.   

In San Antonio, DeMar DeRozan scored 29 points and San Antonio beat Atlanta  117-111 for the 21st straight time at home.               

In Sacramento, James Harden had 36 points and 10 assists and Houston matched its season high with 26 3-pointers in a 130-105 win over Sacramento.