Pro Sports

Durant leads Thunder past Lakers in Bryant's last road game

Posted April 11, 2016 7:00 am

By CLIFF BRUNT

Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant shoots against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Monday, April 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams) The Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Kevin Durant scored 34 points and Russell Westbrook had a triple-double by halftime to help the Thunder beat the Los Angeles Lakers 112-79 on Monday night in the final road game of Kobe Bryant's 20-year career.

Kobe looked vintage in the first quarter with 13 points, but he went scoreless the rest of the way.

Plenty of Lakers fans lined up at Chesapeake Energy Arena more than two hours before the start, and the crowd chanted Bryant's name as they waited during pregame warmups. The Thunder honored him with a video before the tip.

Westbrook stole the show in the second quarter, clinching his league-leading 18th triple-double of the season, and the 37th of his career. He finished with 13 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds.

Westbrook finished the first half with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists as the Thunder led 58-48 at the break. He clinched the triple-double on an assist to Anthony Morrow for a 3-pointer with 11.9 seconds left in the second quarter. According to STATS, no player has clinched a triple-double before halftime since it began keeping track in 2002-03.

Durant scored 16 points during a 26-6 run to start the second half, and the Thunder led 89-61 at the end of the third quarter.

Bryant sat down for good in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, the crowd started chanting "We want Kobe," and "Kobe," but the Thunder had the game well in hand.

COURTSIDE

Oklahoma G Buddy Hield, who led the Sooners to the Final Four, sat in the front row. Bryant watched when Hield scored 37 points in the Sooners' Elite Eight win against Oregon.

TIP-INS

Lakers: Bryant missed his first two shots, but made a 3-pointer about five minutes into the game. ... C Roy Hibbert was called for a Flagrant 1 foul in the third quarter on a shot by Steven Adams. ... Bryant scored 42 points in his final playoff game, a loss in Oklahoma City on May 21, 2012.

Thunder: Westbrook and Julius Randle were called for double technicals in the first quarter. ... Adams finished with 13 points and 15 rebounds. ... Remained unbeaten this season when Westbrook gets a triple-double.

UP NEXT:

Lakers host Jazz on Wednesday.

Thunder play at Spurs on Tuesday.

___

Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP .

Los Angeles Lakers center Tarik Black (28) shoots over Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Monday, April 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams) The Associated Press

Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) loses control of the ball on the way to the basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Monday, April 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams) The Associated Press

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) goes up for a basket over Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcelo Huertas (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Monday, April 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams) The Associated Press

Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle, left, and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka, right, go after a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Monday, April 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams) The Associated Press

Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (6) goes up for a basket as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dion Waiters (3) and guard Russell Westbrook (0) defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Monday, April 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams) The Associated Press

A Kobe Bryant fan holds a sign thanking him for his 20 years during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Monday, April 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams) The Associated Press

Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle (30) shoots in front of Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dion Waiters (3) and Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams (12) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Monday, April 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams) The Associated Press

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