OKLAHOMA CITY -- Not much about Oklahoma City point guard Russell Westbrook goes unnoticed. In the past week, while much of the NBA has focused on Kevin Durants run at a possible first MVP award, Westbrook quietly has been the Thunders most productive and efficient offensive player. Westbrook turned in another gem on Friday, finishing with 24 points and seven assists in just 28 minutes to help Oklahoma City beat the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans 116-94 on Friday night. Oklahoma City won its third straight and clinched the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Westbrook has been sitting in one game of back-to-backs, so he has played in just four of Oklahoma Citys past six games. In those four games, he is averaging 28.5 points, 6.8 assists and 5.3 rebounds while shooting 51 per cent from the field. "Hes well rested and hes taking advantage of a lot of matchups," Durant, who led the Thunder with 27 points against New Orleans, said. "Thats what we need from him. Hes playing extremely well. Hes picking and choosing his spots well. Hes playing with a lot of intensity for us." Westbrook said moving in and out of the lineup hasnt slowed him down. "My job is to always stay confident, regardless of if Im playing or if Im missing games," he said. "Just come out with a positive mindset and try to keep going." Serge Ibaka added 16 points, 10 rebounds and a season-high eight blocks for the Thunder. "It seemed like he had 10 or 11 blocks," Durant said. "He was protecting the paint. He was there on pick and rolls. He was there all night." The Thunder shot 54 from the field, made 23 of 27 free throws and committed just 11 turnovers. Oklahoma City led by 25 points at the end of the third quarter, so Durant and Westbrook rested in the fourth. Oklahoma City outscored New Orleans 28-0 in fast-break points. "They were able to steal a lot of buckets in transition," New Orleans guard Austin Rivers said. "I felt like every time we made one mistake, I felt like they capitalized on it, where when we got one, we werent able to." Darius Miller scored a career-high 18 points and Rivers had 18 points and eight rebounds for the Pelicans. New Orleans was without injured starters Anthony Davis (back) and Eric Gordon (left knee tendinitis). "Our guys, they just scrapped and clawed and tried to do what they can to help their teammates," New Orleans coach Monty Williams said. "Its a tough situation playing against a good team." The Thunder took advantage of New Orleans depleted lineup by taking a 30-23 lead at the end of the first quarter. Oklahoma Citys reserves helped the Thunder push the lead to 44-27. New Orleans went on an 11-0 run before Derek Fisher scored for the Thunder. On Oklahoma Citys next possession, Durant sent a nice pass to a running Ibaka, who dunked to put the Thunder up by 10. Durants jumper with three seconds left in the first half put the Thunder up 60-47 at the break. Westbrook scored 16 points in the first half on just 10 shots, while Durant and Ibaka added 12 points apiece. Midway through the third quarter, Rivers got ahead of the pack for what looked like an easy basket. Ibaka caught up with him and pinned his shot on the glass, then Durant dunked on the other end to give the Thunder a 75-56 lead. "Hes fast enough to keep up with guards," Rivers said of Ibaka. "When you have a 7-foot guy who can jump, running on a fast break on defence, its hard to get to the basket. Their defence is all on him. Without Ibaka, this is a whole different team." NOTES: Oklahoma City started its preferred lineup of Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka, Kendrick Perkins and Thabo Sefolosha for just the 22nd time this season. Oklahoma City has played nine starting lineups. ... Durant was presented the Western Conference Player of the Month award for March before the game. He has won four out of five months. ... Rivers got his first start of the season, and New Orleans rookie F Jeff Withey got his second. ... New Orleans G Brian Roberts left the game with a left ankle injury and did not return. ... New Orleans G Tyreke Evans left the game with a right knee bone bruise and did not return. ... Perkins, Durant and Westbrook were issued technical fouls in the third quarter. Durant picked up his 15th of the season. .com) - Damian Lillard poured in 40 points on 11-of-21 shooting to go along with 11 assists, and the Portland Trail Blazers stunned the Oklahoma City Thunder, 115-111, in overtime on Tuesday. . Gaborik was acquired in a trade with Columbus on Wednesday and skated on the top line with centre Anze Kopitar and right-winger Justin Williams. "We created some things," said Gaborik, who logged 16:38 of ice time.
https://www.cheaphurricanes.com/.com) - St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko, Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk and Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury have been selected as the NHLs top players for last week. . Since coming to the big leagues in late May, La Stella is 6 for 7 with the bases loaded, driving in 13 runs in those at-bats. . -- The road to the Masters got off to a bumpy start Sunday for Tiger Woods when he withdrew from the Honda Classic with what he said was a lower back injury.ST. LOUIS -- From the first pitch, Adam Wainwright thought this could be the day he threw a no-hitter. He came really close. Wainwright allowed one hit, facing one batter over the minimum and very few hard-hit balls, and the St. Louis Cardinals ended an eight-game home run drought with long balls from Matt Adams and Jhonny Peralta in a 5-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night. "Ive had some times in my career where I felt like I had the stuff to do it," Wainwright said. "And today I had the stuff to do it," Wainwright said. Working on six days rest because of a rainout and day off, Wainwright (7-2) retired the first 11 batters before Paul Goldschmidt doubled off the wall in centre with two outs in the fourth. He matched his season best with nine strikeouts, fanning A.J. Pollock twice. "Goldschmidt, hes a very good hitter. I dont ever second-guess a pitch to Goldy out there," Wainwright said. "I threw a curveball middle of the plate 2-2 and he hit it off the wall. "Just take what you get." Peralta hit his team-leading ninth of the season in the sixth and added one of the Cardinals five doubles for a second RBI against Bronson Arroyo (4-3). Arroyo had been 3-0 with an 0.39 ERA in May and hadnt allowed a homer his last four starts. Arroyo gave up five runs in seven innings, all of the runs coming with two outs. "With two outs, they were tough. They just got it done," Arroyo said. "You just cant do that with Wainwright, hes so tough." Adams two-run shot in the first was the Cardinals first since May 9 when Peralta and Craig homered at Pittsburgh. It was their first in nine home games since Adams and Craig connected against the Brewers on April 30. The Cardinals entered with 23 homers, fewest in the National League and second fewest in the majors. "We didnt stress the first couple of months of the season the way our offence was," Adams said. "We know this is the offence were capable of every night." The one-hitter was a career best for Wainwright, who has thrown four two-hitters. He threw his second shutout of the season and the eighth of his career on a day Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said struggling closer Trevor Rosenthal would not be available. Rosenthal hhas two blown saves his last five appearances, the last coming when he pitched for the fourth straight game and took the loss against the Braves on Sunday.dddddddddddd Former closer Jason Motte, activated from the 15-day disabled list before the game, warmed up in the ninth. Matheny said Motte would have made his season debut if Wainwright, who totalled 115 pitches with no walks, struggled. Wainwright said he lobbied Matheny for 12 pitches in the ninth and needed just nine to finish it. "Weve taken a couple from him when he was right there," Matheny said. "You dont often get those opportunities with a one-hit shutout, and he hadnt worked that hard." The Diamondbacks arrived minus new chief baseball officer Tony La Russa, who managed the Cardinals for 16 seasons and retired in 2011 after leading them to a second World Series title. Manager Kirk Gibson said before the game he didnt think it would have been a distraction. "Having him around, we look at as a positive," Gibson said. "I would say hes probably a little better at making decisions than I am." Pollock made an outstanding running catch in centre field a few steps from the wall to rob Molina of extra bases in the sixth. The Diamondbacks first three hitters had been 15 for 28 with four homers and 11 RBIs the previous three games. They fell victim to the Cardinals fifth straight starter to work at least seven innings. "He was good, but every pitcher for these guys is good," Goldschmidt said. "So there is never a night off," Goldschmidt said. NOTES: Rookie Michael Wacha (3-3, 2.82) faces Brandon McCarthy (1-6, 5.01) in the second game of a three-game set on Wednesday night. ... Plate umpire Brian ONora left after three innings due to illness and the game was delayed several minutes while Marvin Hudson, who had been at second base, put on equipment to replace him. ... Diamondbacks 2B Aaron Hill (shoulder) missed his third straight start but is expected to return Wednesday. Gibson said an MRI exam last week showed no problems. ... Attendance of 42,252 was the Cardinals 10th of the season. .. Wainwright has 106 victories with St. Louis, tied with eighth on the career list with Slim Salee. ... Wainwright is 5-1 in six career starts at home against Arizona. ' ' '
