Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder Match Player Stats On Jan 09, 2020

The Houston Rockets' Russell Westbrook scored 34 points in his return to Oklahoma City, but the Thunder controlled the game from early on to beat the Rockets 113-92 Thursday night.

Westbrook starred 11 seasons for the Thunder, helping Oklahoma City to nine playoff appearances and one NBA Finals, before being traded to the Rockets in the offseason.

That trade, which sent Chris Paul and four draft picks to the Thunder, was the second major swap in an offseason of rebuilding for Oklahoma City.

Less than a week before dealing Westbrook, the Thunder sent Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers for second-year guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, veteran swingman Danilo Gallinari and draft picks.

All of the players the Thunder received in those trades played big roles in Thursday's decisive win.

Gallinari led Oklahoma City with 23 points, Gilgeous-Alexander added 20 and Paul put in 18.

The Thunder won for the seventh time in eight games.

While with the Thunder, Westbrook made a habit of running across the court after being introduced, and gesturing toward the adoring crowd.

In his first game in Chesapeake Energy Arena as a visitor, Westbrook ran to the same corner after being introduced, raising his index finger high as the crowd gave him a lengthy ovation.

That ovation followed a video tribute by the Thunder to Westbrook's remarkable stint with Oklahoma City that included the 2016-17 Most Valuable Player award and three consecutive seasons averaging a triple-double.

But while the Thunder were welcoming to Westbrook before the game, they were plenty hostile once it got underway.

Oklahoma City scored 37 first-quarter points to lead by 16 after 12 minutes, and the game was never closer than double figures the rest of the way.

Westbrook was 14 of 26 from the floor but the Rockets' other star, James Harden, was just 5 of 17 from the floor and 2 of 9 from behind the 3-point line to finish with a season-low 17 points.

Houston was held below 100 points for just the second time this season.

The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Rockets.

--Field Level Media