OKC spurns San Antonio
The Thunder beat the Spurs on Thursday in OKC, 102-92.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich called timeout 24 seconds into the third quarter, livid as the Spurs turned the ball over. Russell Westbrook had the steal and the head of steam.
He tossed an underhand pass to Andre Roberson on the break for his eighth assist.
Two nights before, Westbrook had nine total, to go with a much-talkedabout 39 shot attempts.
“My job is to make sure to get guys open shots,” Westbrook said.
Entering Thursday, San Antonio was one of three teams Westbrook had never recorded a triple-double against. Scratch them off, as Westbrook logged his 31st of the season in a 102-92 win, outdueling fellow MVP candidate Kawhi Leonard in the process.
Westbrook’s 31st triple-double tied Wilt Chamberlain for the second-most in a single season. It came in a game of better scoring and shot distribution for the Thunder compared to Tuesday’s 58-point explosion from Westbrook.
Westbrook had 23 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists Thursday, but five Thunder players finished in double-digit scoring.
“I personally felt like Russell tonight did an incredible job of managing the game, keeping everybody totally engaged,” Thunder coach Billy Donovan said.
For the first time this season, the Thunder had a starting lineup change that had nothing to do with an injury. Taj Gibson in. Domantas Sabonis to the bench.
What better time to try fresh tactics? The Thunder had lost four consecutive games, including a Tuesday loss to Portland in which OKC didn’t have
its usual rebounding dominance. The Spurs were coming off the second night of a back-to-back. They’d left starting point guard Tony Parker out of the active roster, as well as sixth man Manu Ginobili.
What didn’t change was Westbrook dictating play. What did in addition to the starters was the volume of shots of the rest of the Thunder. Victor Oladipo added 20 points, and Enes Kanter had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Doug McDermott added 11 points.
All four players had double-digit shot attempts two nights after Westbrook was the only Thunder player to break 10.
It helped that Oladipo started cooking in a third quarter Leonard wasn’t. Oladipo had 11 in the third, including two 3-pointers assisted by Westbrook. Leonard, masterful in the post against Oladipo and Andre Roberson the first half, had 19 points entering the fourth quarter, but was just 1-of-6 in the third as the Thunder extended its lead to 11.
Leonard checked out at 2:29 in the third quarter, went to the locker room after getting hit in the head according to the Spurs, and never returned to the game.
Westbrook did, checking out with 1:48 left in the fourth quarter as fans applauded and a one close to the scorer’s table asked who was going to win the MVP.
Before that, Westbrook was walking to the scorer’s table midway through the quarter with the Thunder ahead 12.
Oladipo momentarily bobbled the ball. “You’ve got time, you’ve got time,” Westbrook said.
“That’s a big part of of it,” Westbrook said in postgame of the Thunder’s communication.
“That starts with me, so I’ve gotta make sure I continue to communicate throughout the game.”
Oladipo probed for a second, then drove for a scoop shot layup.
Westbrook clapped, signaled to the scorer’s table he’d be back next time out, and walked back to the bench.
Less than two minutes later, the triple-double was secure off a rebound, and the Thunder was on its way to wrapping up one of its best post-All-Star break performances.
“Tonight was a game where he was leading, getting everyone involved,” Donovan said.
“I know there was a lot of talk about his usage rate, trying to put everyone on his back. I think he’s always evaluating it from a perspective of ‘what do I need to do?’
“It’s not about usage. It’s about what a team needs in that moment in time. He’s just focused on right now and what I need to do in this moment.”