Westbrook sets NBA record
Warriors tighten grip on top spot
Oklahoma City star Russell Westbrook was feted with loud chants of “MVP, MVP” by Orlando Magic fans after an electrifying performance on Wednesday in Orlando. Westbrook finished with 57 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists as the Thunder rolled to a 114- 106 win in overtime at Orlando’s Amway Center. It was Westbrook’s fourth consecutive triple- double and his 38th of an incredible season. It also set a new record as the highest- scoring triple- double in NBA history. The 28- year- old is now just three shy of equaling Oscar Robertson’s long- standing NBA record for triple- doubles in a single season. The win helped the Thunder improve to 43- 31 while the Magic are now at 27- 48 after a second consecutive defeat. Westbrook said his hunger to scale new heights had inspired him. “You just got to want it more than other people,” Westbrook said. “I don’t think about getting tired. I just keep going and going. I don’t think about it. I just think about making the next play, making winning basketball plays. I’m blessed.”
The highlight of Westbrook’s master class was a devastating late burst of scoring which saw him net 19 points in the final six minutes of regulation time, draining a three- pointer with seven seconds remaining to send the game into overtime.
“Russell was spectacular coming down the stretch and the way he closed the game,” Thunder coach Billy Donovan said. “Overall, it’s just incredible what he’s doing now.”
Magic coach Frank Vogel ranked Westbrook’s display as one of the greatest in history.
“That was one of the best,” Vogel said. “It’s tough to rank those over the years, but it’s right up there with the best. Give him credit.”
Also on Wednesday, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson led the Golden State Warriors to a magnificent comefrom- behind victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
Curry and Thompson – the fabled “Splash Brothers” of the Warriors’ offense – combined for 52 points as the Dubs overturned a 29- 7 deficit to secure a 110- 98 win over their Western Conference rivals.
The win saw Golden State tighten their grip on the top seed position in the conference standings, improving to 61- 14 as second- placed San Antonio slipped to 57- 17.
The win hands the Warriors a psychological boost as they head into the playoffs next month, where they could ultimately face San Antonio for a place in the NBA Finals.
In the Eastern Conference, Boston were knocked off top spot after slipping to a 103- 100 win against the Milwaukee Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 22 points as the Bucks dug in for an important win.