SAN ANTONIO — Russell Westbrook had 35 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists, and the Oklahoma City Thunder rallied in the fourth quarter to beat the San Antonio Spurs, 95-91, on Tuesday night and take a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference semifinals.
Kevin Durant added 23 points as the Thunder won for the second time in San Antonio in the series. Oklahoma City can close out the series Thursday in Game 6 at home.
Westbrook sealed the victory with a 3-point play with 6.3 seconds remaining, scoring after the Spurs weren’t able to foul him intentionally and he drove for a layup while being fouled.
Kawhi Leonard finished with 26 points for San Antonio, which lost at home once in the regular season and has dropped two straight there now.
The Thunder took a 92-90 lead with 54 seconds remaining on a pair of free throws by Durant after Spurs guard Danny Green fell into his legs when he appeared to be tripped by Oklahoma City’s Steven Adams on an attempted screen.
Tony Parker missed the second of free throws to make it to 92-91. Parker also missed a 12-foot jumper.
Westbrook settled in after an erratic first half in which he committed six of the Thunder’s 13 first-half turnovers. He only had two turnovers after halftime.
Westbrook was 12 for 27 from the field in scoring a personal series high.
Besides scoring at least 28 points for the fourth time in the series, the electrifying point guard had four offensive rebounds and two steals in 39 minutes.
The aggressive defense that brought Oklahoma City back into the series after an embarrassing Game 1 loss continued Tuesday night. The Thunder bodied the Spurs on the wings and then collapsed fully when San Antonio attempted to attack the lane.
Green added 20 points, going 6 for 9 shooting on 3-pointers. LaMarcus Aldridge also had 20 points but shot just 6 for 21.
Westbrook and Durant have both scored 25 or more points in the same contest in 33 postseason games. Elgin Baylor and Jerry West have the most combined playoff games of 25-plus at 50. Fellow Lakers greats Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant are tied for second at 33.
Tim Duncan’s dunk with 2:58 left in the first half were his first points since a layup 31 seconds into the second half in Game 3. Duncan, who finished with 5 points, was held scoreless in Game 4 for the first time in 249 postseason games over a 19-year career. His 250 postseason games are nine shy of the record held by former Lakers guard Derek Fisher, and his 157 wins trail only Fisher’s 161.
