But Russell Westbrook, Rose’s Los Angeles workout buddy and opposite number on the Oklahoma City squad, stole the show at the Garden with a massive 27-point, 18-rebound, 14-assist performance in the Thunder’s 112-103 victory. This year, Russell Westbrook is trying to become the second. Steven Adams added 16 points and nine rebounds. While James needed 1,000 games to reach this mark, though, Westbrook did it in his 605th game.
The only player in National Basketball Association history to average a triple-double throughout an entire season is Oscar Robertson.
Noah – who saw fourth quarter action for the first time in five games – admitted his team got pushed around but placed some of the blame on Westbrook’s pace. In addition to his team-high 27 points, Kanter had six of the Thunder’s 17 offensive rebounds, including his key tip for the final points. He did that by putting up 30 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.
Kristaps Porzingis added 21 points and Carmelo Anthony chipped in with 18 points.
“Nothing else matters to him and I’ve always admired that about him”, Donovan said, “and he’s going to go out and he’s going to continue to improve and get better as a player”.
Westbrook passed Fat Lever in all-time triple doubles to move into sixth place all-time.
And before play resumed, Westbrook returned to the Oklahoma City bench, where he’d come from to do his instructing. What they shot from the line and the fact that we got to the free throw line a little bit more than they did.
John Wall had 19 points and 11 assists for the Wizards, but committed a career-high 11 turnovers.
Suffice to say, Fizdale and Miami coach Erik Spoelstra are both thrilled their matchups for the season are over.
“The shot is easy money, and the Thunder would reap even more dividends if Russell would trust the attempt exclusively on its merits”. Rose has a year left on his contract, so depending on how things pan out, New York’s point guard situation is as nebulous as ever.
Going hand-on-hand with Fred Katz’s preview of tonight’s game, I definitely recommend listening to his preview of tonight’s game on the Locked On Thunder Podcast with Jared Dubin. “Now I have a chance to re-establish myself here, and just take off from here”.
(On how they bounced back from last night to starting the game with energy): “I thought we came out with a lot of energy”. I just got to stay working.
“It’s a combination of me getting better as a player and also being patient”, Westbrook said. I am familiar with Kuzminskas and Hernangomez from their worldwide play, and I see them both as limited role players who fill very specific roles.