Westbrook posts another triple-double, Thompson drains 60 points
Russell Westbrook extended his streak of triple-doubles in the NBA as the Oklahoma City Thunder downed the Atlanta Hawks, while Klay Thompson erupted for the Golden State Warriors.
Westbrook made it six successive games with double-digit points, rebounds and assists in Monday’s 102-99 win over the slumping Hawks.
Thompson went berserk as the Warriors crushed the Indiana Pacers 142-106.
In four quarters of action, Thompson scored 60 points, 40 of those coming in the first half.
The San Antonio Spurs improved to 12-0 on the road with a 97-96 victory against the Milwaukee Bucks, while reigning champions the Cleveland Cavaliers trumped the Toronto Raptors 116-112.
WESTBROOK AT IT AGAIN
The five-time All-Star has completely taken the NBA world by storm this season, and Monday’s win over the Hawks proved no different.
Westbrook recorded his sixth straight triple-double. More impressively, he reached the feat in the third quarter.
He is now just the fourth player in NBA history to record six straight triple-doubles, joining Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson.
With his latest, Westbrook now has 11 triple-doubles on the season, matching the rest of the NBA.
SPURS MATCH FRANCHISE RECORD
There is no stopping the Spurs on the road this season.
LaMarcus Aldridge’s go-ahead basket with 21.2 seconds remaining after Giannis Antetokounmpo was penalised for goaltending, saw the Spurs extend their winning streak away from home to 12 games, equalling a franchise record.
Aldridge finished with 18 points, while Kawhi Leonard added 22 points as the Spurs snapped Milwaukee’s four-game winning streak.
THOMPSON EXPLODESÂ IN FIRST HALF
He may often feel like the third wheel on a date while watching his offense usually run through Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, but it was Thompson going off in the first half of Monday’s tilt against the Pacers.
Despite playing just 18 minutes in the first half, Thompson poured in 40 points on 15-of-22 shooting. The slick-shooting guard had not scored more than 30 points in a game entering the contest.
He then went on to add another 20 points in the second half as the Warriors claimed back-to-back wins.
IT IS THE GOLDEN STATE SHOW
#DubNation on @NBATV ! #NBARapidReplay https://t.co/iwRvTUfyVW
— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2016
This is what 40 points at the half looks like… courtesy of @KlayThompson on @NBATV ! #DubNation pic.twitter.com/jE1EvE6S6w
— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2016
Marc Gasol’s game tying 3! pic.twitter.com/9MAuXNOdkM
— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2016
BIG THREE INSPIRE CAVS
James scored a game-high 34 points with eight rebounds and seven assists against the Raptors. The two teams played a dramatic Eastern Conference finals last season, and the Cavs have now won three close games over them already this season.
Love poured in 28 points while hauling in 14 rebounds for a double-double, and Irving added 24 points with seven assists.
DeMar DeRozan led the Raptors with 31 points, and Kyle Lowry added 24 points with nine assists.
GASOL LIFTS GRIZZLIES IN DOUBLE OT
Paul Gasol posted 28 points, including the game-tying three-pointer, 11 rebounds and 11 assists as the Memphis Grizzlies prevailed 110-108 against the New Orleans Pelicans in double overtime.
The Houston Rockets edged the Boston Celtics 107-106, the Portland Trail Blazers outlasted the Chicago Bulls 112-110, the Brooklyn Nets lost 118-113 to the Washington Wizards, the Charlotte Hornets were too good for the Dallas Mavericks 109-101, the Denver Nuggets defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 106-98 and the Utah Jazz beat the Los Angeles Lakers 107-101.
SPURS ON THE ROAD
Can the Spurs improve to 13-0 away from home? They have the chance to do so when they face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday. The Bulls are also in action against the Detroit Pistons.
