There aren’t any words that’ll do justice to Russell Westbrook‘s performance last night. He was a blur of motion on his way to a career-high 49 points, a career-high 16 rebounds and 10 assists. It’s remarkable he only turned the ball over four times, and was 16-of-33 from the field when everyone in Philadelphia (and the world) knew he was playing with tendrils of flame emanating behind him.
The Thunder’s 123-118 overtime win over 76ers last night in Oklahoma City was just the backdrop for a performance of the ages: just four days after Westbrook had surgery to fix the dent in his face, he unleashed the ninth circle of hell on the Sixers in a basketball show that will go down in the record books as one of the most dominant in NBA history. Plus, he had to deal with that mask, which he said after his historic game was actually fogging up on him:
“It was OK,” Westbrook said. “It was weird, obviously. Keep wiping it and it was a total big process of trying to keep everything from not fogging up. But it’s not going to stop me. My job is to come out there and lead my team.”
Only 15 times over the last 47 years of NBA action has a player scored over 40 points during a triple-double performance, and Larry Bird — in 1992 — was the only one to drop 49. Russ also became the first player since Michael Jordan in 1989 to record four straight triple-doubles (MJ ended with seven straight and finished with 11 that season). Only MJ, Pete Maravich and Westbrook have recorded back-to-back 40-point triple-doubles. Westbrook was also just the fifth player in NBA history with over 45 points and 15 rebounds during a triple-double.
Russell Westbrook is the 1st player with 4 straight triple-doubles since Michael Jordan had 7 straight in 1988-89.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 5, 2015
Russell Westbrook is just the 5th player over the last 47 years with 45 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in a game. (via @EliasSports)
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 5, 2015
40-point triple-doubles in consecutive games in NBA history: Pete Maravich, Michael Jordan…..Russell Westbrook. (via @EliasSports)
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 5, 2015
Even Dwyane Wade had to stop and pause when he saw Westbrook’s numbers flash across the TV when he was being interviewed.
Wade looks over media scrum, sees Westbrook's numbers flash on TV in locker room. Immediately pauses mid-sentence, loses train of thought.
— Michael Wallace (@MyMikeCheck) March 5, 2015
Words are an empty vessel when it came to #WhyNot Russ’ play last night. We should have known what was coming after he took an inbounds and flew the length of the court for a two-handed flush in the first period.
https://twitter.com/daldridgetnt/status/573331199541809153/photo/1
There’s never been a time when different teammates won the MVP award in back-to-back seasons, but after Westbrook’s February, and early March, he’s likely the frontrunner for the 2015 NBA MVP. Sit back and watch greatness unfold in one of the craziest performances we’ve ever seen.
(video via FreeDawkins)
