CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Russell Westbrook didn’t think the Oklahoma City Thunder were aggressive enough in the last meeting with the Charlotte Hornets.
The NBA’s reigning MVP made sure that didn’t happen again Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
“We hit first,” Westbrook said.
Westbrook had 25 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, and the Thunder beat the Hornets 101-91 to snap a three-game losing streak.
Paul George added 17 points, Steven Adams had 14 points and 11 rebounds, and the Thunder avenged a 116-103 loss to the Hornets earlier this season in Oklahoma City.
The Thunder trailed by three entering the fourth quarter, but their bench helped open a double-digit lead as Charlotte shot 5 of 21 from the field over the final 12 minutes. The Thunder attempted 97 shots as they dominated the offensive glass with 20 second-chance points.
Oklahoma City’s length on defense bothered the Hornets all night, particularly late in the game.
Charlotte scored just 32 points in the second half.
“We used our size and athleticism, to put pressure on them,” Westbrook said.
Hornets All-Star point guard Kemba Walker had several shots blocked on drives to the basket and finished 5 of 17 from the field. He still led the Hornets with 19 points, while Dwight Howard added 11 points and 17 rebounds.
Charlotte hoped to gain some momentum and get back in the fight in the Eastern Conference after having won three of its previous four games, but couldn’t overcome its poor fourth quarter. The Hornets were outscored 28-15.
It was a needed win for the Thunder in their fifth game on the road in the last six. Oklahoma City will play four of its next five at home.
Westbrook finished just 10 of 27 from the field but controlled the tempo of the game late and didn’t allow the Hornets to get back into it once they fell behind by double digits.
Hornets associate head coach Stephen Silas said he felt that his team ran out of gas in the fourth quarter after playing a late game Friday night and then two hours earlier than normal on Saturday.
“We started the quarter pretty good but after the second group went in they seemed tired,” Silas said. “Our first group seemed tired, too. A back-to-back with a quick turnaround was a tough one.”