SAN ANTONIO -- Russell Westbrook says theres no question Oklahoma City is the leagues best team. He backed up his words Saturday night by leading the Thunder to a dominant victory in a place few visiting teams have had success. Westbrook had 31 points and eight assists and Oklahoma City used a strong second quarter to beat the San Antonio Spurs 113-100 for its ninth straight victory. "We got the best record in the league; I believe were the best team in the league regardless of who says this and who says that," Westbrook said. "You have to go out and play. You can predict anything, but you have to play the game." The Thunder outscored the Spurs 40-29 in the second quarter to hand San Antonio only its second home loss this season. "It was one of our best scoring quarters," Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks said. "Not sure we have even had a 40-point quarter this season, but we moved the ball well and made shots. Both teams are hard to guard and both teams can score points. We got hot there in the second." Tony Parker had 23 points and eight assists in his return from a two-game absence due to a bruised shin, but Kawhi Leonard was a late scratch following a dental procedure. Even though they were without their best defender on the wing, San Antonio said Leonards absence had little to do with the loss. "Well, Im sure wed like to have Kawhi, but that happens to every NBA team at some point in the season," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "You dont lose just because of that. We would have loved to have had him, but they played better than we did tonight for more of the game." Kevin Durant, whom Leonard would have defended, only had 17 points while going 6 for 14 from the field. Instead, it was Westbrook and reserve guard Reggie Jackson who proved difficult to stop. Jackson had 21 points, four assists and only one turnover in 30 minutes. "This is the second game hes been playing good against us," Parker said. "We have to find a solution for him. Westbrook and Durant they are going to score and take a lot of shots, but we cant let Jackson score that much. Thats two games in a row that I felt hes the one that hurt us the most." Westbrook and Jackson were a combined 21 for 36 and handed out 12 assists. Playing their seventh game in 10 days, the Spurs looked lethargic after a strong start. The Thunder never trailed after Jacksons reverse layup put them up 21-19 with a minute remaining in the first quarter. Jackson had 10 points in the quarter. "Once we move the ball the way we did tonight, everybody touches it, were a pretty good team," Durant said. "Once (the ball) gets sticky and try to play one-on-one, thats when we kind of struggle. Russell is doing a great job of getting everybody involved and picking and choosing his spots; when to score." The Spurs had won six of seven entering Saturdays game, but couldnt recover from the second-quarter pasting. "They made a lot of shots, you have to give them credit," Parker said. "I thought overall we played well, but they just played better." The Spurs committed five turnovers while taking only 17 shots in the period, which was one less than the Thunder made. San Antonio was 20 for 49 in the paint, continually missing layups. "That was tough," Parker said. "We couldnt get a lead. We were playing well, we made some stops, but we missed a lot of layups, thats basketball." The Spurs pulled within a pair of baskets on several occasions in the second half, but the Thunder responded with a small run each time. Jackson was usually at the forefront of the runs, going 8 for 14. "I just told the guys to keep inspiring each other on the defensive end," Brooks said. "I told them to help their teammates out when they needed help and I felt they did that extremely well tonight. We have improved in that area for the past few years, but tonight was really good." NOTES: Parker (shin bruise) was questionable, but started and played 33 minutes. He had eight assists while shooting 6 for 14. ... Entering Saturdays game, the Thunder were averaging 109.9 points during their eight-game winning streak and shooting 50.2 per cent. ... Popovich was whistled for a technical foul after complaining to official Monty McCutchen about a non-call on Tiago Splitters dunk attempt against Ibaka. Junior Galette Saints Jersey . Stastnys second goal of the game 3:36 into the extra session gave the Avalanche and troubled goalie Semyon Varlamov a 3-2 win over the Dallas Stars on Friday night. Khiry Robinson Saints Jersey . Barcelona says Pique tore a muscle in his right leg. The Spain international will miss Spanish league games against Almeria and Valladolid, but should be back for the Champions league match against Manchester City on March 12. http://www.authenticsaintsteamshop.com/Ben-Grubbs-Saints-Jersey. Former Angel Juan Rivera hit a three-run home run and Ethier added his 500th career RBI, helping the Dodgers rally to beat the Angels 5-2 Tuesday night and end their 10-game road winning streak. "I was focused on the task at hand, having the same good approach and the same good swing," Ethier said. Benjamin Watson Saints Jersey . David Hunter and Nick Sorensen had a goal and an assist apiece for Quebec (34-15-9), Francois Godin, and Fabrice Herzog also scored, and Adam Chapman added an empty netter with two seconds left in the game. Shayne Graham Saints Jersey . With the game in hand, the Miami Heat could worry about individual stats. Wade and James had handsome numbers in Mondays 102-96 victory over the Detroit Pistons.SAN FRANCISCO -- Fred Couples extended his lead to five strokes Saturday after the third round of the Champions Tours season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship. Winless this season, Couples shot a 3-under 68 to reach 15-under 198 at TPC Harding Park. "I enjoy having a lead," Couples said. "Sometimes when you go and play with a lead, you try to expand it. If youre behind, every shot is important. I dont do well with that. Im just going to go out and play. For the most part its about stepping up and just hitting it." Mark OMeara was second after a 67. "Hell be hard to beat, no question, with his power and length," OMeara said about Couples. "I have no problems with Freddy at all, hes been great for the game." Fred Couples and Mark OMeara have known each other since both qualified for the PGA Tour in 1980. "The best things are the pairings," Couples said. "I get Mark OMeara and it couldnt get any better for me." Defending champion Tom Lehman had the best round of the day, a 65, to join Bart Bryant and Peter Senior at 9 under. Bryant shot 70, and Senior had a 72. Charles Schwab Cup points leader Kenny Perry was tied for seventh at 7 under after a 67. Bernhard Langer, needing a victory and help to catch Perry, also was 7 under after a 71. Couples opened the round with a bogey. He easily shook that off and worked his way under par for the day. "Its almost laughable," he said. "I could play that hole 100 times and alwayys make par.dddddddddddd Making a good drive on the first hit and not making par is ridiculous." Couples missed a 3-foot putt for par. "Im not going to get down on myself over my putts," Couples said. "I missed a lot of putts. The worst I could have shot today was what I shot. The first two rounds were my best of the year. Today was not as easy." OMeara played consistently well through the day, with his only hiccup a bogey on 17. He finished with a birdie on 18. "I drove the ball pretty well," OMeara said. "I had some good opportunities early in the round when I hit good putts that just missed the hole." OMeara recalled that Couples slept in his car during the first stage of the qualifying tournament in 19800, but was invited to stay with OMeara the final two or three days of Q-school. "Weve both had fairly parallel careers," OMeara said. "We both made it through Q-school and the rest is history." Couples and OMeara wound up playing together on the final day of Q-school in Fresno. "I was the last guy to make it make it," Couples said. "I think he was one shot better than me, but we both qualified and neither of us ever had to do that again." Couples said he was confident if one of his shots detoured into the rough. "I like this kind of rough," he said. "If you put me in the soft, fluffy stuff, I dont do very well. Here I can almost hit like little bunker shots. I just feel like I can get my club through this grass." ' ' '