Russell Westbrook was outstanding once again.
Even though Russell Westbrook doesn’t want people to talk about it, how can you not? The man is playing lights out this season, even with his Oklahoma City Thunder securing a W he’s still fighting for every loose ball and rebound. Westbrook finished the game with 29 points 15 rebounds (all defensive) and 11 assists coming two rebounds shy of a triple-double before halftime. He notched the trip-dub with 5:21 left in the third quarter.Oklahoma City improved to 12-3 this season and 45-7 all-time when Westbrook has a triple-double.
“He’s competing until the very end,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after the game.”Every single possession is the most important possession to him. Great, great lesson … from somebody’s that is really imposing a competitive will on every contest. He did what he does. What defines greatness is consistency, and that’s what you can book pretty much every night.”
Enes Kanter and Steven Adams finished with 19 and 15 points respectively, with Adams slamming down a monstrous slam in the first half.Both players had 8 rebounds as well.
“I thought our team did a great job of focusing in on what we do as a team and came out and put our foot down early,” Westbrook said.
The Thunder limited Hassan Whiteside to just 12 points and 8 rebounds while Josh Richardson tied his career high of 22 points.Both James Johnson and Tyler Johnson scored 16 and 15 respectively off the bench for Miami.
Miami Heat point guard Goran Dragic (back spasms) and Thunder shooting guard Victor Oladipo (right wrist sprain) missed the game, it was Oladipo’s eighth straight missed game.
The Thunder visit Memphis Grizzlies tomorrow while the Heat visit Charlotte Hornets Thursday as well.
- TAGS
- Miami Heat
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Russell Westbrook
- Triple-Double
