OKLAHOMA CITY: It would have been understandable for the Oklahoma City Thunder to overlook the struggling Los Angeles Lakers Tuesday night with a road game looming against defending NBA champs San Antonio

NBA scoring leader Russell Westbrook refused to let that happen, scoring 27 points and adding 11 assists as the Thunder beat the Lakers 127-117 for their fourth straight victory.

Westbrook took over the game after the Lakers had closed to 70-61 three less than three minutes into the second half, getting a steal and dunk and draining a 3-pointer seconds later on his way to a 14-point third quarter.

Enes Kanter contributed 25 points and 16 rebounds, and for the second straight game, got off to a fast start, recording a double-double in the first quarter with 15 points and 10 rebounds as Oklahoma City raced out to a 37-27 lead.

Kanter has scored 52 points and grabbed 28 rebounds in his last two games. Many of his points have come after offensive rebounds, especially when defenses try to gang up on Westbrook when he drives to the basket.

For the Lakers, it was their 10th loss in the last 12 games, as they saw their road record fall to 7-27. Jordan Clarkson tried to keep Los Angeles competitive, scoring 30 points, but his team was able to get no closer than the final 10-point deficit down the stretch.