OKLAHOMA CITY — Russell Westbrook hit three 3-pointers down the stretch, including the clincher with 21 seconds left, and the Oklahoma City Thunder overcame a 40-point night by Gerald Wallace on Sunday to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 99-90 and clinch their second straight playoff berth.
Westbrook’s 3 from the left wing gave the Thunder a 97-90 lead and, after Wallace missed a jumper with 16 seconds remaining, the Thunder could finally breathe easy. They are now 3-0 against Portland, with the previous two victories coming by a combined three points.
Wallace was unguardable at times in the second half as he carried the Trail Blazers back from a 14-point halftime deficit. His total, on 16-of-28 shooting, was a season high and just two points shy of his career best.
Westbrook scored 28 and Kevin Durant finished with 21, although he was only 5 of 18 from the field. Oklahoma City won its third straight and ninth in the past 10. LaMarcus Aldridge scored 20 for Portland.
Westbrook picked up his fifth foul with 6:18 remaining, but proceeded to hit back-to-back 3-pointers to help the Thunder build a 90-82 lead with just over 4 minutes remaining. Wallace countered with consecutive baskets of his own to get Portland within 90-88 with 2:11 left.
It was 92-88 when Wallace had his shot blocked by Kendrick Perkins on a drive to the basket, and Andre Miller’s follow attempt was blocked by Serge Ibaka. That led to Westbrook’s breakaway for a 94-88 lead.
Two free throws by Aldridge made it 94-90 with 43 seconds remaining, but Westbrook clinched it with his long 3 about 20 seconds later.
Wallace scored 15 in the third quarter. The Blazers began the quarter by outscoring Oklahoma City 13-3, Wallace scoring six, and it stayed close the rest of the way. A late spurt by the Thunder, capped by James Harden’s 3-pointer, gave Oklahoma City a six-point edge heading into the final period.
Aldridge and Wallace combined to help the Trail Blazers turn an early nine-point deficit into a one-point lead. Portland led by a point early in the second quarter before Nazr Mohammed scored four points and Harden had a dunk in a 6-0 run for a 33-28 lead.
Four points by Wallace made it 36-34 midway through the period when Durant hit a 3-pointer to begin a Thunder spurt that saw them outscore the Trail Blazers 19-7 for a 55-41 halftime lead.
