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Oklahoma City Thunder snap the Raptors' franchise-record-tying run of 11 wins

Russell Westbrook had 14 assists and 13 rebounds for his 23rd triple-double of the season. Only Oscar Robertson (181), Magic Johnson (138) and Jason Kidd (107) have more triple-doubles

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TORONTO — Russell Westbrook scored 37 points and recorded his 102nd career triple-double, helping the Oklahoma City Thunder defeat the Toronto Raptors 132-125 and snap the Raptors’ franchise-record-tying run of consecutive wins at 11 Sunday.

Westbrook had 14 assists and 13 rebounds for his 23rd triple-double of the season. Only Oscar Robertson (181), Magic Johnson (138) and Jason Kidd (107) have more triple-doubles.

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Oklahoma City is 18-5 this season when Westbrook registers a triple-double.

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Six Raptors scored in double figures led by DeMar DeRozan’s 24 points. The Raptors star was ejected with 8.1 seconds left after getting a second technical. Serge Ibaka and coach Dwane Casey were also ejected as Toronto lost its cool at the officiating.

Security escorted the officials of the floor as the crowd booed.

Kyle Lowry fouled out of the game with 22 points with 3:16 remaining.

Steven Adams had 25 points, two short of his career high. The Thunder big man did it despite having to go to the locker-room briefly in the third quarter after taking an Ibaka knee to the groin area as the Raptors forward drove the basket.

Toronto led 98-97 after a back-and-forward third quarter, setting the stage for a dramatic fourth that saw the teams trade leads. A thundering dunk by Raptors birthday boy C.J. Miles raised the roof early in the quarter, as did a Pascal Siakam one-hander.

Toronto Raptors’ Delon Wright (left) passes the ball by Oklahoma City Thunder’s Jerami Grant during first half NBA basketball action in Toronto on Sunday, March 18, 2018.
Toronto Raptors’ Delon Wright (left) passes the ball by Oklahoma City Thunder’s Jerami Grant during first half NBA basketball action in Toronto on Sunday, March 18, 2018. Photo by Chris Young/THE CANADIAN PRESS

Tied at 123-123 with 69 seconds remaining, Paul George hit two free throws. DeRozan fed Delon Wright for a bucket to tie it but Westbrook restored the lead.

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DeRozan screamed for a foul on a missed shot and Westbrook scored again to make it a four-point lead. Rubbing salt in the would, DeRozan was called for a technical that made it 130-125. A second technical and ejection soon followed.

The Raptors had matched the franchise record with their 11th straight win, a 122-155 overtime triumph over Dallas on Friday night. Toronto set the mark Jan. 6 to Jan. 20 in 2016.

Toronto’s last loss came Feb. 23 when it dropped a 122-119 overtime decision to the Milwaukee Bucks. The Raps had won 18 of their last 19 including a franchise-record eight straight on the road.

Portland, which downed Detroit to win its 12th straight Saturday, played at the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night.

The Thunder arrived on a five-game winning streak, which included victories over four teams currently out of the playoff picture. Oklahoma City had won eight of its previous 10.

Toronto has the league’s best home record at 29-6. The franchise record for home wins is 32, in 2015-16.

OKC, fourth in the West, came into the game tied for ninth in the league on the road with a 17-18 record.

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The game saw plenty of big plays and miscues.

The Thunder made their first five shots and nine of their first 10. Toronto kept pace for most of the quarter, thanks to six three-pointers, but trailed 40-34 going into the second. OKC made 18-of-24 shots in the opening quarter while Toronto was good on 13-of-21.

Toronto Raptors’ Pascal Siakam (centre) drives at Oklahoma City Thunder’s Jerami Grant as Thunder’s Patrick Patterson (left) looks on during first half NBA basketball action in Toronto on Sunday, March 18, 2018.
Toronto Raptors’ Pascal Siakam (centre) drives at Oklahoma City Thunder’s Jerami Grant as Thunder’s Patrick Patterson (left) looks on during first half NBA basketball action in Toronto on Sunday, March 18, 2018. Photo by Chris Young/CANADIAN PRESS

Adams had 14 points in the first, a career high for a quarter.

An 11-3 run by the second unit gave Toronto the lead in the second quarter. And a pair of Lucas Nogueira dunks brought the crowd on its feet. The big Brazilian known as Bebe had five points and five rebounds in an eventful six-minute appearance during the quarter.

Toronto led by 10 but OKC, with the starters back on the floor, clawed its way back to lead 66-64 at the half. The Thunder went to the free throw line 17 times in the first 24 minutes, converting 12 times.

These kind of games you find out a lot about yourself, because they’re certainly one of the best teams playing

The third quarter saw Lowry and Jonas Valanciunas both draw their fourth personals and George his fifth.

Toronto lost 124-107 when the two teams played at Oklahoma City on Dec. 27. The Raptors have gone 29-8 since.

“These kind of games you find out a lot about yourself, because they’re certainly one of the best teams playing,” Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan said before the contest.

Sunday’s game saw OKC’s Carmelo Anthony pass Reggie Miller (25,279 points) to stand 19th on the league’s all-time scoring list.

NOTES: Norm Powell was cleared to play for the Raptors after missing the last two games with an ankle sprain. But fellow guard Fred VanVleet sat out with a hand contusion … Toronto has scored 100 points or more in 23 consecutive games, a franchise record … The Thunder stood arm-in-arm during the national anthems … Sunday’s game was shown live in prime time in India.

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