Thunder notebook: Russell Westbrook erupts

Russell Westbrook scored a season high 33 points. It’s his second highest offensive outing behind a career-best 34-point outing last season at Sacramento on Super Bowl Sunday. Westbrook hit 14 of 25 shots, dished out seven assists and had four turnovers.

"I just try to take what teams give me,” Westbrook said. "If it’s my shot it’s my shot. If someone else is open it’s their shot. I’m feeling more comfortable. But it’s going to take some time.”

Kevin Durant scored 27 points. Durant was 11-of-22 from the field and drained his only 3-point attempt. It was an encouraging outing after Durant went 3-of-21 from the field in a loss to Portland and was 0-of-5 in the fourth quarter and overtime in a loss to the Lakers.

"I’ve always believed that if you work hard, and play hard, good things will happen,” said coach Scott Brooks. "You know things will turn around for him. I don’t even know if you can call it a slump after four games. But he wasn’t shooting the ball as well as he’s capable. Every player goes through that.”

Shaun Livingston and D.J. White made their season debuts. Livingston played five minutes in the second quarter. White, the fifth but odd man out of a four-man inside rotation, played 10 minutes in second half when Etan Thomas sat against the quick, guard-oriented Rockets.

"You have to work hard in practice to keep your game going,” Livingston said. "I know how it is. It’s a long season. Everything can change in a heartbeat. It was good to get out there. When your name is called you have to be ready.”

Jeff Green had his first bad shooting game. Green, 3-of-15 from the field, scored a season-low six points. Westbrook and Durant were the only two players to score in double figures. Nick Collison scored nine points.

"I missed shots,” Green said. "Players sometimes go through a little slump when they miss shots. I’ve just got to continue to be aggressive. I know I can shoot. If I miss I’m going to shoot the next one.”

Rockets coach Rick Adelman recorded his 864th career win, tying him for 11th place all time with Jack Ramsey. Adelman has coached at Portland, Golden State, Sacramento and Houston... For the first time this season the Rockets wore their alternate "mustard and ketchup” jerseys, red uniforms with yellow numbers, a new look to pay homage to the franchise’s storied past... Having played one season at Texas 160 miles away in Austin, Durant received a nice ovation during pre-game introductions... The Rockets theme is "Red Nation.”

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