Russell Westbrook made NBA history on Wednesday night, but he didn’t get what he wanted: a win.
The Oklahoma City Thunder supernova dropped the first 50-point triple-double in NBA history, a 51-14-10 scoring line that gave him yet another record in a record-shattering season.
It came, however, in a 115-111 loss to the Houston Rockets that put the Thunder in a 2-0 series hole heading back to Oklahoma City.
Asked about his line in the postgame presser, Westbrook completely dismissed the very thought that he had even considered his stats in the game.
Thunder's Russell Westbrook on posting NBA's first postseason 50-point triple-double: "I don't give a f— about the line. We lost." pic.twitter.com/hRZG4zUkSy
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) April 20, 2017
The reporter asked Westbrook for a “grade” of his performance, the first three quarters of which were unquestionably brilliant. But the point guard made just four of his final 18 shots in the fourth quarter and watched as James Harden and the Rockets clawed back from a double-digit deficit. A 10-0 fourth quarter run allowed Houston to pull away and take both games at home before heading on the road.
This isn’t the first time Westbrook has been dismissive of his numbers when the Thunder have lost. For as much reverence as he’s had for Oscar Robertson and his historic season, Westbrook has made it clear that winning is what matters more than the numbers he’s producing.
It’s the right stand to take publicly, but here’s hoping Russ can someday look back on the incredible numbers he’s putting up and appreciate how impressive it is, and why reporters keep asking about it all.
