RUSSELL WESTBROOK scored 41 points in his 29th triple-double of the season to help the Thunder beat the New Orleans Pelicans 118-110 Sunday night.

    Westbrook had a career-best 21 fourth-quarter points. He shot 7 for 19 from the field the first three quarters and was 7 for 10 in the fourth.

    “Throughout games, I’ve got to find a better way to pick my spots,” he said. “Tonight was the fourth quarter. Some nights it may be early, some nights it may be late.”

    Westbrook also had 11 rebounds and 11 assists in the 66th triple-double of his career.

    Enes Kanter had 20 points and nine rebounds for the Thunder, who won their third straight.

    Anthony Davis scored 38 points for the Pelicans. DeMarcus Cousins had 31 points and 10 rebounds, but played just 22 minutes.

    “We put ourselves in position to win, and when you do that, you have to make plays down the stretch,” Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said. “We didn’t, and they did.”

    The Pelicans fell to 0-3 since acquiring Cousins in a trade with Sacramento.

    “It’s a learning curve right now,” Cousins said. “We’re still getting to know one another. Just keep growing.”

    Davis scored 24 points in the first quarter to help the Pelicans take a 35-32 lead. Cousins, who missed most of the first quarter with foul trouble, scored 14 in the second, and the game was tied at 59 at the break.

    Cousins picked up his fifth foul in the final minute of the third quarter, and the Thunder entered the fourth with an 87-84 lead.

    Westbrook’s dunk over Cousins and the free throw put the Thunder up 110-106. Another slam by Westbrook in the final minute put the game away.

    (SD-Agencies)