SINCE they broke into the league together in 2008, Russell Westbrook and Derrick Rose have travelled west to shoot jumpers under the guidance of trainer Rob McClanahan.

    Just a few short blocks from Santa Monica Beach, the point guards revered for their attacking styles fine-tuned their games at St. Monica Elementary school, and finally this summer, for the first time in a while, Rose was fully healthy.

    A year-plus removed from yet another surgical procedure on his balky knee, Rose was in Los Angeles training with Westbrook when he received word he would be leaving Chicago for New York and on Monday, the guards faced off for the first time at Madison Square Garden.

    It was clear that Rose, who is trying to return to the elite level Westbrook now owns, took special interest in the matchup — even if he wouldn’t admit it — and the 28-year-olds didn’t disappoint.

    They traded baskets all night long — Westbrook produced his eighth triple-double this season; Rose dropped a season-high 30 points — and it was the Oklahoma City Thunder who came out on top, 112-103.

    Following yet another feat of scoring, passing and crashing the glass, Westbrook is now averaging a triple-double (30.9 points, 11.3 assists and 10.3 rebounds). Oscar Robertson is the only player in NBA history to finish a season with such an average dating back to 1962.

    Of course, it’s way too early in the season to draw any parallels to The Big O, but that Westbrook is putting up such a stat-line, even through 19 games, is remarkable, if seemingly unsustainable.

    “Winning is sustainable,” Westbrook answered, clad in all black with the hat to match. “My job is to go out and find the best way to win games. Right now, we won three straight and that is most important to me.”

    That best way? Westbrook’s prowess on the offensive glass. He pulled down five such rebounds to go along with 13 on defense. The 200-pounder easily positioned himself under the basket time and again, even outmuscling Kristaps Porzingis for one of his 18 rebounds.

    The UCLA product, drafted three slots after No. 1 overall pick Rose in 2008, has posted a triple-double in each contest during this three-win streak.

    Westbrook shot just 9 of 23 from the field, but when he missed, Enes Kanter was there to clean up with second-chance points (27 points total). Of course, the fashion icon also dished plenty of perfect passes on his way to 14 assists.

    Mixed with Andre Roberson’s stout defense, it’s a winning formula for the Thunder, who is now 11-8 led by the MVP candidate.

    “He’s going to put up numbers because of his ability and how hard he plays and his gifts,” Billy Donovan said. The Thunder coach was particularly impressed with Westbrook’s effort on the glass and on loose-ball plays, which he called an “unbelievable message to our team.”

    “He’s doing a lot of other things that the stat sheet doesn’t measure. I know everyone is focused on (the triple-doubles), and rightfully so — it’s historic what he’s doing.”(SD-Agencies)