Oklahoma City Thunder defeat Denver Nuggets, secure fifth consecutive win

For the Denver Nuggets, Danilo Gallinari led the way in scoring with 27 points on 10-21 shooting to go along with 3 rebounds and 2 assists. Although Charlotte managed to hang around with the Thunder midway through the third quarter, an injury-depleted Hornets roster ended up taking another hit as both Nicolas Batum (toe) and Cody Zeller (shoulder) left the game in the second half and did not return.

Hassan Whiteside scored 23 points and grabbed 18 rebounds for Miami, which has dropped two straight and trailed by at least 22 in each of those games.

Down by as little as five in the first half, the Hornets have a disastrous third quarter on their way to their 11th consecutive loss to OKC.

Anthony Davis scored 35 points and the New Orleans Pelicans overcame an early 17-point hole to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-99 on Tuesday night.

Westbrook finished two rebounds shy of what would have been his sixth triple-double of the season. Jeremy Lin scored 16 points and Frank Kaminsky added 15. The Denver Nuggets were not able to overtake the Thunder in the fourth quarter, as Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant led Oklahoma City to a 6-point victory at the Pepsi Center. Westbrook found Serge Ibaka in the right corner for a 3-pointer and a 70-56 lead. The Hornets are 12-7 when he is in the lineup and 7-16 without him.

Enes Kanter also scored a season-high 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds, as the Thunder held off a late revival by Denver. Charlotte is now 0-8 on the road against the Thunder since the franchise relocated from Seattle to Oklahoma City for the start of the 2008-09 National Basketball Association season. Starting with Friday’s assignment at Dallas, each of the Thunder’s next four games will be played away from home. Coach Steve Clifford was called for a technical foul during a timeout in the third quarter.