The Thunder was heard in Oklahoma City on Monday night. Russell Westbrook tallied his 18th triple-double of the season, finishing with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists in a 112-79 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Not only did he notch the triple-double, he reached the marks in the game's first 18 minutes. He’s the third player in the past 20 seasons with a triple-double in a half. Jason Kidd did it in a second half in 2010, and Kevin Johnson was the last to do it in the first half, in 1997.
Johnson’s came on Feb. 12, 1997, against the Celtics. He had 14 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds in the first half. He finished the game with 22 points, 17 assists and 11 rebounds in the Suns’ 131-100 victory.
Westbrook played only 10 minutes, tallying two points and four assists, in the second half.
Westbrook’s 18 triple-doubles this season lead the league. He leads his division, too. The rest of the Northwest Division combined has one triple-double, by his teammate Kevin Durant on Dec. 10.
The Elias Sports Bureau shared the following additional nuggets:
• Westbrook’s 18th triple-double of the season put him into a tie with Magic Johnson (1981-82) for the most in a single season in the past 50 seasons. The only player with more in a single season in that span is Wilt Chamberlain, twice -- in 1967-68 when he had 31 and 1966-67 when he had 22.
• Westbrook's team has won 18 straight games when he has recorded a triple-double, the third-longest such streak in NBA history behind Magic Johnson (24 straight) and Chamberlain (21).
• It was Westbrook’s eighth career triple-double in 30 or fewer minutes played. That’s the most in the shot-clock era (since 1954-55). Magic Johnson is second with four.