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 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.

    Those tuning in to the Lakers’ season finale hoping for max Kobe Bryant won’t be disappointed.

    When asked the burning question regarding Bryant’s playing time in his final game tomorrow at home against the Jazz, the Lakers coach, Byron Scott said he plans to milk the 37-year-old for every last minute of his career before Bryant can ride off into retirement.

    “He’ll play more than he has all season long,” Scott declared, surely to the delight of those doling out US$1,000 for admission to Staples Center.

    Bryant maxed out at 37 minutes this season in a November game against the Clippers.

    (SD-Agencies)