Thunder (17-12), Pelicans (10-21)
Russell Westbrook, the triple-double machine, was the marquee attraction on the visiting roster Wednesday, but it wasn’t the perennial All-Star who finally swung the Western Conference game in the Thunder’s favor. Sparked by an unheralded and somewhat unknown cast, Oklahoma City broke open a very tight game early in the fourth quarter, building a double-digit lead while Westbrook rested. The Thunder led 87-84 entering the final dozen minutes, but behind some lethal three-point shooting by Alex Abrines and other subs, the guests ruined the opener of the Pelicans’ five-game homestand. When Westbrook returned to the court with seven-plus minutes left, OKC had grabbed control.