Still without main man Kevin Durant, the Oklahoma City Thunder continue to ride the hot streak of its other star, Russell Westbrook as they beat the Chicago Bulls, 109-100 on Sunday. Westbrook exploded once again for 36 points and added 11 rebounds and 6 assists to lead the Thunder back in the playoff picture.

OKC improved to 37-29 for the season and is now in eighth place one game ahead of the New Orleans Pelicans, which dropped to 36-30 after a loss to the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.

Westbrook was inefficient from the field— 12-of-27 from the floor— but it didn’t matter as he dominated from all over once again including going 10-of-13 from the free throw line. Westbrook, the league’s leading scorer has now dropped six 30-plus point games in the past eight for OKC.

Westbrook had major support in this one as the front court of Enes Kanter and Steven Adams both turned in double-doubles; Kanter had 18 points and 18 rebounds while Adams had 14 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocked shots. Dion Waiters, D.J. Augustin and Anthony Morrow added 11 markers each.

Chicago was in the game early and trailed by just two points in a low-scoring first quarter, 17-15 in favour of Oklahoma City. The scoring picked up in the second quarter and the game was tied at 47-all at the halftime break. The Thunder made a run in the third quarter, 28-23 and then 34-30 in the final quarter.

Nikola Mirotic led the Bulls coming off the bench for 27 points and Pau Gasol had 20 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocked shots. Chicago has now lost five of their last six games— and their only win in this stretch came in an overtime victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. The Bulls will try to recover when they return home in their next two games when they face the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday and the Toronto Raptors on Friday.

Oklahoma City has a big road game against West rivals Dallas Mavericks on Monday before going back home to host the Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers.

To contact author of this article, email j,quizon@IBTimes.com.au

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