Russell Westbrook Exploded For 45 As The Thunder Erased A 25-Point Deficit To Force Game 6

The Thunder appeared headed for their summer vacations early in the third quarter against the Jazz on Wednesday, trailing by as many as 25 points in the third quarter, but a 32-7 run to close the quarter tied the game at 78-78 heading into the fourth quarter.

Oklahoma City’s run was fueled by Russell Westbrook, who caught fire with 20 points in the third quarter as he almost single-handedly willed the Thunder back into contention. Westbrook put forth the kind of performance that earned him the league’s MVP award last season, torching the Jazz defense inside and out as he finally, for the first time in the series, found his three-point stroke.

Westbrook kept his foot on the gas pedal in the fourth quarter, as the Thunder pulled away for the 107-99 win in the final period thanks to 13 more points from Russ to give him 45 on the night along with 15 rebounds and seven assists.

It wasn’t a one-man effort from Westbrook as Paul George had a big night as well with 34 points to complement Westbrook’s 45-point outburst.

OKC’s aggressiveness in that third quarter run got Utah’s star center Rudy Gobert in foul trouble, who picked up his fifth foul and had to sit for much of the fourth. By the time he returned midway through, the damage had been done by the Thunder offense. The Jazz tried to hang around and cut the lead to as few as three late in the fourth, but the Thunder’s onslaught was just too great. Utah’s offense was unable to find the rhythm they had in the first half.

The 25-point comeback was the third largest in NBA playoff history, and the series shifts back to Utah for Game 6 with all eyes on how the Jazz respond to this deflating loss and whether the Thunder can ride this wave to a stunning series comeback.