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Westbrook leads Thunder over Pelicans

Feb 5, 2015 - 5:48 AM New Orleans, LA (SportsNetwork.com) - Without Kevin Durant for the second straight game, Russell Westbrook had to step up and delivered in the Oklahoma City Thunder's 102-91 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

Westbrook tied a career-high with 45 points and added six assists and six rebounds to end Oklahoma City's four-game road losing streak. Anthony Morrow had 14 off the Thunder bench, while Serge Ibaka and Dion Waiters contributed 13 and 12 points, respectively.

"Just trying to find a way to keep us in the game and get us a win," Westbrook said.

New Orleans struggled from the field in having its two-game winning streak halted. The Pelicans shot just 38.9 percent and made 7-of-25 shots from 3- point range.

Anthony Davis led the way for New Orleans with 23 points and eight rebounds, and Ryan Anderson netted 19 points.

The Pelicans led by 11 early in the second half, but Westbrook and Ibaka powered the Thunder to a 9-0 run to pull within 68-66. Kendrick Perkins later broke two ties with buckets in the final 2 1/2 minutes of the quarter, and Oklahoma City led 77-76 going into the fourth.

New Orleans went up 91-89 with 5:39 to play on Anderson's 3-pointer, but the Pelicans would not score again. Ibaka's dunk on the ensuing possession tied the game, and Westbrook scored the next three points during a game-closing 13-0 run for the Thunder.

"We've got to really hone in on the details defensively," said Pelicans guard Eric Gordon. "Our effort was there, but things didn't go our way."

After the Anderson triple, the Pelicans shot 0-for-11 while Oklahoma City was 6-of-9.

With Durant still saddled with a toe injury, Westbrook got off to a fast start by totaling 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting in the first quarter. However, the Thunder led just 31-29 after one period after Anderson scored five points in the final minute.

Steven Adams' layup with 1:04 to go in the first half tied the game at 49-49, but the Pelicans led 57-51 at the break after a quick flurry in the final minute that ended when Quincy Pondexter beat the buzzer with a 3-pointer.

After scoring 25 points in the first half, Westbrook got more support in the third quarter. Ibaka equaled Westbrook with 11 points in the frame, and the Thunder finished the period with a 9-3 spurt to go ahead.

Game Notes

Ibaka blocked six shots ... New Orleans still leads the season series 2-1, and these teams finish the set Friday at Oklahoma City ... The Pelicans fell to 21-5 when leading at halftime ... The Thunder shot 52.9 percent.