Top 5 Russell Westbrook Triple-Doubles This Season
By Max Seng
3. Jan. 23, 2017 vs. Utah Jazz: 38 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, game-winner
We’ve now officially crossed into the Russell Westbrook “bleep you” category. Westbrook had 14 points in the fourth quarter to push the Thunder over the edge against an imposing Utah Jazz team. The game ended up being a constant push-and-pull between the Jazz and Thunder, with Oklahoma City trying to get into transition and Utah trying to slow them down. Most of Russ’ work in this game came from the midrange and post-ups against smaller Utah defenders.
Westbrook also shot only 11-for-29 this game, but was 13-for-17 from the free-throw line. Behind the game-winner, his biggest basket came with under two minutes left in the game and the Thunder down one. Westbrook felt he was hit, turned to the ref to indicate his displeasure with the no-call, and in one motion turned around from 20 feet and hit a jumper. Even the Utah commentators had to comment on the bizzarre nature of the basket.
The game-winner was nothing more than a high ball screen from Adams and subsequent downhill run from Westbrook to rise up in the midrange and send the Utah fans home dissatisfied. Granted, the Jazz were able to get a pretty clean look for the final shot, but it clanged off the rim. Westbrook’s didn’t.
