Russell Westbrook says there is no question Oklahoma City is the league's best team.

He backed up his words on 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 we're 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 Leonard's absence had little to do with the loss.

"Well, I'm sure we'd like to have Kawhi, but that happens to every NBA team at some point in the season," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "You don't 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 six 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 he's been playing good against us," Parker said. "We have to find a solution for him. Westbrook and Durant are going to score and take a lot of shots, but we can't let Jackson score that much. That's two games in a row that I felt he's 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 Spurs had won six of seven entering Saturday's game, but couldn't recover from the second-quarter pasting.

(China Daily 12/23/2013 page24)