Russell Westbrook Ties Career High With 17 Assists

Westbrook also scored 21 points to lead the Thunder to a second win in as many nights without reigning NBA MVP Kevin Durant.

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Oklahoma City has won five of six without Durant, who has a foot injury but is expected to return later this season.

Westbrook is making his own case for MVP this season. He had 17 assists last month while recording his ninth career triple double in a 127-115 win over Golden State on Jan. 16.

“Russell’s at a high level, but he’s been playing this way for a long time, for a lot of years, and every year, like all the special players do, they come back a little bit better,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said Sunday night .