The Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard dunks the ball against the Thunder’s Russell Westbrook . Photo: EPA
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https://scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1943514/oklahoma-city-grab-lead-russell-westbrook-leads-thunder-past-san Other Sport
Oklahoma City grab lead as Russell Westbrook leads Thunder past San Antonio Spurs
Oklahoma City Thunder ‘s Russell Westbrook goes to the basket against the San Antonio Spurs. Photo: EPA
Russell Westbrook had 35 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists, and the Oklahoma City Thunder rallied in the fourth quarter to beat the San Antonio Spurs 95-91 on Tuesday night and take a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference semi-finals.
Kevin Durant added 23 points as the Thunder won for the second time in San Antonio in the series. Oklahoma City can close out the series on Thursday in game six at home.
Westbrook sealed the victory with a three-point play with 6.3 seconds remaining, scoring after the Spurs weren’t able to foul him intentionally and he drove for a layup while being fouled.
Kawhi Leonard finished with 26 points for San Antonio, who lost at home once in the regular season and have dropped two straight there now.
The Thunder took a 92-90 lead with 54 seconds remaining on a pair of free throws by Durant after Spurs guard Danny Green fell into his legs when he appeared to be tripped by Steven Adams on an attempted screen.
Tony Parker missed the second of free throws to make it to 92-91. Parker also missed a 12-foot jumper.
Westbrook settled in after an erratic first half in which he committed six of the Thunder’s 13 first-half turnovers. He only had two turnovers after half-time.
Westbrook was 12 for 27 from the field in scoring a personal series high. 
The Thunder’s Kevin Durant (lying on floor) watches the ball get away from him. Photo: AFP
Besides scoring at least 28 points for the fourth time in the series, the electrifying point guard had four offensive rebounds and two steals in 39 minutes.
The aggressive defence that brought Oklahoma City back into the series after an embarrassing game one loss continued on Tuesday night. The Thunder bodied the Spurs on the wings and then collapsed fully when San Antonio attempted to attack the lane.
Green added 20 points, going 6 for 9 shooting on three-pointers. LaMarcus Aldridge also had 20 points but shot just 6 for 21.