Make wishtv.com your home page

George held to 10 points, fouls out; Thunder still beat Pacers

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Paul George was held to 10 points against his former team, but Russell Westbrook’s triple-double picked up the slack and helped the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers 114-96 on Wednesday night.

The Pacers traded George to Oklahoma City after it became public knowledge that he didn’t plan on staying with the team long-term. He fouled out with 6:15 remaining after playing just 19 minutes.

Westbrook finished with 28 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds. Carmelo Anthony had 28 points and 10 rebounds, and Steven Adams added 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Thunder, who snapped a two-game skid.

Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis, who were sent from Oklahoma City to Indiana as part of the George deal, both started against their former team. Oladipo scored 35 points. Darren Collison added 18 points for the Pacers.

The Thunder led 54-48 at halftime behind 15 points from Anthony and 11 points and 10 assists from Westbrook. Oladipo scored 21 points before the break.

Oklahoma City got it going early in the second half. A 3-pointer by Josh Huestis put the Thunder ahead 70-57. A driving layup by Westbrook expanded the lead to 82-66 with about three minutes left in the period.

Westbrook had eight rebounds when he sat down to rest late in the third period. He returned in the fourth quarter and grabbed his 10th rebound with just under five minutes remaining.

TIP-INS

Pacers: The Oklahoma City crowd greeted Oladipo and Sabonis warmly during pregame introductions. … Sabonis got his fourth straight start at center in place of Myles Turner, who was out again with a concussion and a sore neck. … Indiana was coming off a 130-107 win at Minnesota on Tuesday night. … Pacers coach Nate McMillan was issued a technical foul early in the fourth quarter.

Thunder: Anthony made a layup at the buzzer to end the first quarter. … Rookie G Terrance Ferguson played in the fourth quarter. He sat out Sunday’s game against Minnesota with a sprained left ankle.

UP NEXT

Pacers: Indiana hosts the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.

Thunder: Visits the Minnesota Timberwolves Friday. Minnesota’s Andrew Wiggins banked in a buzzer beater from near half-court to beat the Thunder 115-113 last Sunday.