Sixers strong, but fall to OKC in overtime

OKLAHOMA CITY - The game started as a shootout between 76ers guard Isaiah Canaan and Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook. But when Canaan hit his fifth consecutive three-pointer of the first quarter to give his team a 15-point lead, something appeared to trigger Westbrook. Following an OKC timeout, he took the ensuing inbounds pass, took about five strong dribbles with his left hand and deposited a viscous dunk that spurred a 20-2 run to end the quarter.

That didn't deter the Sixers, however, as they put forth perhaps their best effort of the season, riding a career-best night from Canaan and some clutch shooting by Jason Richardson before falling last night, 123-118, in overtime.

The Thunder improved to 34-27; the Sixers fell to 13-48.

Richardson, who finished with 29 points, forced the overtime with a long three-pointer with 27 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

But Westbrook wasn't going to let this one slip away. He scored 49, while Canaan had 31. Luc Mbah a Moute added 18 and 14 rebounds for the Sixers, while Nerlens Noel finished with eight points and 13 rebounds and Jerami Grant scored 14. Westbrook also collected 16 rebounds and 10 assists, getting his fourth straight triple-double.

Westbrook returned last night after missing a game due to a facial fracture suffered late in Friday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers. The All-Star MVP, Westbrook has missed 15 games this season due to various injuries. But when he plays, he's among the best in the league, and proved it again last night.

"He's got this wild side and a swagger side that's all wrapped up in a really talented player," said Sixers coach Brett Brown. "His ability to go from one end of the floor to the other in just a few dribbles and attack the rim is maybe the league's best. I think that his nine free throws a game average supports that opinion. has just got to be done with a team effort, and get back . He competes as hard as anybody in the NBA."

Brown could have been talking about Canaan with those words as the diminutive guard poured in a career high for points and drained eight of 13 three-pointers. The Sixers' record for threes in a game is nine by Dana Barros in 1995.

Westbrook was playing with a clear facemask that was secured by a head band. While he fidgeted with it during almost every stoppage, it certainly didn't appear to have any effect on the way he played. He ran hard and without fear. He dived on the floor. He stepped in front of penetrators looking to get an offensive foul. He even blocked a two-handed dunk attempt by Noel, though he was called for a foul.

He played like Russell Westbrook always plays, and that was simply too much for the Sixers.

"It's not a thing that you can just put on and feel normal with it," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said of the mask. "But Russell is one of the guys that can do that and get away with it and have a terrific game."

The Sixers withstood that first-half flurry by the Thunder and even took a 59-56 lead into the half. On the final play of the half, Westbrook had his driving layup attempt blocked by Noel. As Westbrook came down, he grabbed his right knee before limping slowly to the locker room. He returned full force in the second half and the Thunder needed everything he could give.

The Sixers built the lead to as high as 16 in the third and were leading by 88-74 with 2:53 to go in the quarter when Canaan went to the bench. When he returned with 10:18 to go in the fourth, OKC had tied it at 90-90.

Canaan has an appreciation for the guy he was in a shootout with for the evening.

"There's a few guards ," Canaan said. "John Wall is real fast getting into the paint. Kyrie is real crafty, he can get in the paint and he's got some quickness to him. There's a lot of guards in this league, but no one that quite has the explosiveness that Westbrook might have."

Line of the day

Brett Brown was speaking about Nerlens Noel and how happy the Sixers were that the center had gained 4 pounds over the past couple of weeks.

"That's where our program is at. We get real excited if Nerlens can gain 4 pounds," Brown said.

Guard Robert Covington missed his second straight game after banging an elbow in Indiana on Sunday. "The pain, in a funny way, has gone up more than down in the few days," Brett Brown said. "It's not anything that's going to keep him out for a long time"...The Sixers host the Utah Jazz tomorrow night and the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.