MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The streak continues ... with an assist.

For the 176th consecutive regular-season game, the Memphis Grizzlies denied the opponent a triple-double. This opponent, the Oklahoma City Thunder, has a player, Russell Westbrook, averaging a triple-double, but he departed early in the Thursday contest due to an ejection.

The Grizzlies took advantage of Westbrook's third-quarter exit to beat the Thunder 114-80 at FedExForum.

Marc Gasol scored 25 points, Troy Daniels had 22 -- all in the fourth quarter -- and Zach Randolph added 21 to lead the Grizzlies, but Westbrook's departure was the story.

Westbrook, averaging 31.7 points, 10.9 assists, 10.6 rebounds, was kicked out of the game with 6:41 remaining in the third quarter after arguing with officials about the shot clock being reset for the Grizzlies when a Memphis shot attempt, in his opinion, hadn't hit the rim.

The star guard received back-to-back technical fouls from official Brian Forte for continuing to argue the non-call, lacing his displeasure with profanity, according to Forte. The Grizzlies led 61-45 when Westbrook departed.

When asked about being ejected, Westbrook said he didn't know why he was tossed.

"Honestly, it's crazy, man," he said. "Especially to be ejected like that when I didn't do nothing. It was just crazy ... because I feel like I don't get the benefit of the doubt most of the time. I get so many techs for just talking. I can't even say nothing when I'm getting hammered every time I go to the damn basket. ...

"I just don't get reffed the same way as other people, and I don't appreciate it."

Westbrook admitted it was a physical game, though he thought the officials were "letting one side be more physical than the other."

Westbrook left with 21 points, five rebounds and no assists in 23 minutes, denying him the opportunity to earn his 16th triple-double of the season and 31st of the calendar year. He finished as the Thunder's leading scorer, but failed to record an assist for the first time in three years.

Enes Kanter had 19 points, while Steven Adams grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds for the Thunder, who turned the ball over 19 times and scored 27 points below their average.

"I thought (Memphis) played very, very well," Thunder coach Billy Donovan said. "I think they did a terrific job defensively. They've been good defensively all year long, but I think there were some things that we certainly could have done a whole lot better."

Grizzlies coach David Fizdale said, in Westbrook, the Thunder lost "the best player in the league" with the third-quarter departure. Westbrook is the league's leading scorer.

"We'll see him again soon," Fizdale said. "And I'm sure he'll be chomping at the bit for that game and ready to go at us. Hopefully, our guys will be up for that again."

Memphis pushed its lead to 65-45 shortly after Westbrook left, and the Grizzlies led 78-61 entering the fourth quarter.

The Grizzlies went ahead 89-62 early in the final period after a soft jumper by Randolph was followed by a Daniels layup. In the closing minutes, Daniels went on a 3-point barrage. He drained five straight in the final three minutes, with his fifth giving Memphis a 37-point advantage -- its largest of the game -- at 111-77.

Donovan agreed afterward that Westbrook is "a really difficult guy to referee" because of speed and explosiveness.

"I've said this before," Donovan said, "he should go to the free-throw line 20 times a game. I think a lot of times he's getting hit and fouled and there needs to be more fouls called. ... He should be going to the free-throw line more than he is."

Westbrook got off to a rough start, going 3 of 7 in the first quarter and committing six turnovers, the most by a player in a quarter this season. The Grizzlies took advantage and led 27-21 after the first 12 minutes. Memphis shot 55.6 percent in the first quarter.

The Grizzlies extended their lead to 17 points in the second quarter, going ahead 55-38 on a fastbreak basket by Tony Allen in the final minute. Memphis was up 55-39 at the break. The Thunder's only lead in the opening half came at 18-17 midway through the opening quarter.

Gasol had 14 points at the half and Randolph had 11 off the bench. Westbrook had 19 first-half points, including 11 straight for Oklahoma City during a stretch in the second quarter.

NOTES: Grizzlies G Mike Conley was originally expected to play, but he was scratched shortly before the game because a toe infection. "The pain would just not go away," Grizzlies coach David Fizdale said. Conley sustained a displaced toenail in a loss Monday at Orlando. ... Grizzlies F Chandler Parsons (knee), who missed the team's game at Boston on Tuesday, returned Thursday and scored two points in 15 minutes. Parsons appeared in the three previous games before Tuesday after missing a month with a bruised left knee. ... Thunder G Victor Oladipo missed his ninth straight game with a sprained right wrist, while G Cameron Payne, a Memphis native, did not play either. Payne, out since breaking his right foot in the preseason, was projected by coach Billy Donovan earlier in the week to return on Thursday.