OKC Thunder key takeaways from NBA game of the year
Westbrook otherworldly:
I think what made me the saddest about losing was the game Russell Westbrook put on the board didn’t result in a win. Sure, 24 assists are incredible, but it was his decision making which I reveled in. At one stage in the match, Westbrook was wide open and considered shooting then spotted the red hot Ferguson also wide open on the far side of the floor and rifled the pass to him which of course TFerg swished.
Russell Westbrook dished out a career-high 24 AST to go with 24 PTS, 10 REB
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) January 11, 2019
20 PTS, 20 AST, 10 REB over last 40 years@MagicJohnson: 3@RussWest44: 2@rod_strickland: 1@IsiahThomas: 1pic.twitter.com/5aQAuVHTWi
His management of the game was unparalleled to anything we’ve previously witnessed and demonstrated why the critics who say Westbrook is stat padding don’t comprehend just how difficult it is to achieve.
On so many nights we hear how Russell makes errors or takes shots he shouldn’t. Sometimes this does happen, but this season he has made a huge leap in this regard and tonight embodied that better than any previous game. Westbrook trusts his teammates and in truth, he could’ve had 30 assists just as easily if some of Adams and Grants bunnies fall or George hits a few more shots.
In the last 20 years, there have been two 20-point, 20-assist triple-doubles: Russell Westbrook tonight against the Spurs, and Russell Westbrook in 2016 against the Suns.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) January 11, 2019
It was the second time in Westbrook’s career he recorded a triple-double consisting of 20 or more assists. And the 24 assist trip-dub ties the highest in NBA history.