Russell Westbrook scores 30 points as Oklahoma City Thunder beat Denver Nuggets

One of the reasons why Chicago Bulls fans find themselves fuming this season is the inconsistent play they’ve seen from their team.

The Chicago Bulls invade the Chesapeake Energy Arena to battle the Oklahoma City Thunder on Christmas Day. In a game in that featured several skirmishes, the Bulls outrebounded the NBA’s No. 2 rebounding team 53-48.

“We just took care of where we want to be towards the end of the year”, said Westbrook, who’s averaged 33.0 points in his last three against Chicago.

As Kevin Durant waited to be interviewed three lockers away, an icebag dropped to the floor as Dion Waiters slowly unraveled a bandage wrapped around his right forearm.

“We just have to get in the weight room and get a little stronger”. “We were making plays for each other”. I can’t go out there looking to be nice to everybody. They would finish the quarter up 32-26, in large part to Oklahoma City’s poor shooting, as the Thunder finished 9-of 26 from the field.

The Thunder were led by Russell Westbrook, who loves competing against the Nuggets and almost recorded a triple-double with 30 points, 12 assists, and 9 rebounds.

He’s been working hard all season long, both in practice and in appearances with the Oklahoma City Blue, while showing flashes of his ability in late-game playing time.

“I do think we’re capable of being better”, Thunder coach Billy Donovan said. “Everybody else on the team, we forced them to make shots and make plays”.

After being told the Thunder are 8-1 when they have 25 or more assists, Durant raised an eyebrow.

Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe, the National Basketball Association team’s top scorer, will have surgery to fix a torn meniscus in his left knee, the team said Sunday. Jimmy Butler had 24 points, three rebounds and four assists to lead the Bulls. The Thunder still allowed Denver easy buckets at the paint, but rallied at the end of the first to lead 32-31.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Enes Kanter is listed at 6-foot-11 but is known as an “under-the-rim” player, teammate Kevin Durant says. The improved Houston defense held the Spurs to a season low in points to snap their season-best seven-game winning streak.

Houston used an 8-2 run to take a 78-71 lead with about five minutes left. After the Nuggets’ loss in San Antonio on Saturday, Malone met former Denver coach Doug Moe for the first time and offered him an “open invitation” to visit the team in Denver.

HEAT 94, PELICANS 88, OT: In Miami, Chris Bosh scored 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and Dwyane Wade added 19 points to lead Miami.

Oklahoma City is 13-3 at home, has won three straight and nine of 10 – with the only loss to the Cavaliers – and scored 100 or more points in eight of those contests.

Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks with 29 points despite shooting just 11 of 26.