| A close game Thursday night between two of the top teams in the Western Conference was blown open in the third quarter as Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook scored 17 of his 36 points to lift Oklahoma City to a 102-93 victory against the Lakers at Staples Center! Westbrook, who grew up in nearby Long Beach and played two seasons at UCLA, continues to make a strong case to be recognized as the best point guard in the NBA! For only the second time in his four-year career, he scored 32 points or more in back-to-back games! He had 32 in a victory Tuesday in Portland! He nearly had his second turnover-free game of the season, but was called for traveling with 7:03 remaining! Thunder backup guard Derek Fisher, who spent 13 seasons with the Lakers during two stretches before he was traded March 15, received a standing ovation when he entered the game with 2:04 left in the first quarter! He scored all seven points in his first seven minutes, his best game with Oklahoma City! Bryant needed 25 shots to score 23 points, Bynum needed 15 to score 25! Bynum also finished with 13 rebounds, his first game in double digits in the last six! ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
