(The Sports Xchange) – Russell Westbrook scored 45 points in Oklahoma City’s 109-98 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, but the Thunder lost Enes Kanter to a fractured right forearm.
Kanter, Oklahoma City’s third-leading scorer, third-leading rebounder and top candidate for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year Award, sustained the injury while punching a chair during a timeout in the second quarter.
Victor Oladipo scored 17 points while Adams added 15 points and seven rebounds for the Thunder.
Harrison Barnes paced Dallas with 31 points on 13-of-26 shooting. Justin Anderson came off the bench to post 17 points for the Mavericks, who played without four of their top six players including Dirk Nowitzki, Deron Williams and Wesley Matthews.
Pacers 109, Timberwolves 103
All-Star Paul George scored 32 points and Myles Turner added 23 as Indiana topped Minnesota.
The Pacers snapped a three-game losing streak three days after their third straight loss drew boos from their home crowd. George, who added five rebounds and four assists, was 12 of 22 from the floor and 3 for 4 from 3-point range.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the Timberwolves with a game-high 33 points and 10 rebounds, while Zach LaVine scored 23. It was Towns’ 35th double-double of the season — third-most in the NBA.
Nuggets 127, Suns 120
Nikola Jokic had 29 points and 14 rebounds before leaving late in the fourth with an injury as the Nuggets defeated the Suns.
Danilo Gallinari scored 23 points and Will Barton scored 16 off the bench for Denver, which won its five straight at home. Jokic limped off the court with 1:47 left after a hard fall.
Eric Bledsoe had 28 points and Devin Booker scored 22 for the Suns. T.J. Warren added 21 but Phoenix couldn’t keep pace down the stretch.
Jazz 96, Lakers 88
Gordon Hayward scored 24 points in his first game after being selected as an NBA All-Star, leading Utah to a victory over Los Angeles.
George Hill added 12 points and Rudy Gobert chipped in nine points, 13 rebounds and a season-high six blocked shots for the Jazz. Utah snapped a two-game losing streak and swept the four-game season series with Los Angeles for the first time.
Lou Williams scored 20 points while Jordan Clarkson and Ivica Zubac added 16 apiece to lead the Lakers. Los Angeles lost for the eighth time in nine games.
