Rapid reaction: Oklahoma City cruises to 106-94 win over Utah

Oklahoma City's Serge Ibaka (9) blocks Utah's Paul Millsap (24) shot during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz, Wednesday, March 23, 2011, at the Oklahoma City Arena. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman ORG XMIT: KOD

By Anthony Slater – Aslater@opubco.com - @anthonyVslater

Oklahoma City beat Utah 106-94 on Friday night. Here’s some rapid reaction:

Turning point

Using a 15-5 run to start the fourth quarter, Utah cut the Thunder’s once comfortable lead to five points, scaring the home crowd but waking up the home team. OKC accepted the challenge, led by an amped up Russell Westbrook, going on a 9-2 run over the next two minutes to put the game out of reach.

Star of the game – Russell Westbrook

The Thunder’s high-strung point guard was wildly effective Friday night (with emphasis on the wild). From the jump, he had a different kind of energy, the kind no other human in the building is capable of giving. Westbrook blitzed the Jazz with his relentless motor, controlling the game in all facets and leading the Thunder to a relatively easy win. Nothing describes Westbrook’s crazy night as aptly as his stacked box score: 23 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists, seven steals and eight turnovers.

Storyline – Offense

Same as it has been the entire homestand. The Thunder is scoring at a crazy rate right now, putting up 100 or more points in eight consecutive games (the longest streak since the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City). And that’s been highlighted in the past three home games, where OKC is averaging 113.3 points on 52.5 percent shooting. Currently, the Thunder are averaging an NBA-best 105.4 points per game.