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Nov 23, 2015 - 6:49 AM The Oklahoma City Thunder are expecting Kevin Durant to soon return after going .500 so far without him, and things would be a lot worse if not for Russell Westbrook.

Durant hasn't been ruled out entirely for Monday night's game against the Jazz in Utah, but if he can't go, Westbrook will again try to pick up the slack for the Thunder.

Oklahoma City (8-6) has won three of six since Durant went down with a hamstring injury largely because of the standout play of Westbrook, who has averaged 32.7 points over that span and reached at least 40 twice - once in a losing effort against Memphis.

The Thunder went 22-18 last season when Durant was sidelined by injury and Westbrook played, and the star guard averaged 30.7 points and nearly 24 field-goal attempts in those contests while scoring 40 or more eight times. In the 30 games when they both took the floor, Westbrook averaged 25.0 points and 19.4 shots.

After launching the ball 76 times over the last three games, he may not have to shoulder the load much longer with Durant close to full strength.

"Right now, when I say 'a few days,' really what they're doing right now is I think they're re-evaluating every day," first-year coach Billy Donovan said of Durant. "I think they're trying to push him a little bit further each day, up unto a point. But I think he's responded very, very well."

If Durant is sidelined again, it could mean a third straight start for Dion Waiters, who has totaled 30 points over the last two games and was one of six Oklahoma City players to score in double digits a 117-114 victory Sunday that ended Dallas' six-game win streak.

However, it was Westbrook who again came up big by hitting three baskets in the final 2:02 to finish with a game-high 31 points and 11 assists.

"I thought this was the most complete game we've had offensively," Donovan said. "This is probably the closest I thought offensively, to an identity that I'd like to see us play with. The ball was moving. It was going from one side of the floor to the other. Guys made really good decisions. Hopefully we can build on it."

The Thunder have dropped three of their last four on the road and three straight at Utah (6-6), including the previous two without Durant. Westbrook's 37 points weren't enough in a 94-89 loss in their most recent visit to Salt Lake City on March 28.

The Jazz are entering a stretch in which they get 10 of their next 14 at home after playing just three times there this season, winning twice.

They've dropped four of their last six overall after falling 102-93 to the Mavericks on Friday despite getting 22 points from Gordon Hayward.

The forward is scoring 16.3 points per game - a drop from his career-best 19.3 last season - but he's averaging 18.0 at home and 22.3 in his last six against the Thunder.

Derrick Favors has a 19.7 average while shooting 62.8 percent over the last three games after scoring 18 and sinking 9 of 14 shots Friday.

The forward had 22 and 11 while adding three blocks in a 99-94 loss at Oklahoma City in his most recent meeting with the Thunder on Jan. 9. Back spasms forced him to miss the most recent matchup at home in March.

Jazz point guard Trey Burke has totaled 42 points over the last two meetings.