How the Rockets' Russell Westbrook helped the Thunder force a Game 7, just like old times.
Russell Westbrook barreled toward the lane like we saw him do so many during his days as a Thunder, accelerating and charging with his defender struggling and failing to keep up.
But when the Rockets point guard flung a no-look pass over his right shoulder, we saw another familiar sight.
The ball sailing out of bounds.
On a night the Thunder had to win to avoid elimination and force a Game 7 in this playoff series, Westbrook did all he could to help OKC.
Just like old times. Thunder 104, Rockets 100. Westbrook, playing for just the second time in the playoffs after missing four games with a quad injury, struggled mightily. He scored 17 points but needed 15 shots to get there, even airballing one of those pull-up jumpers from his sweet spot in the final minute of the game. He missed both of his free-throw attempts.
But worst of all, he committed seven turnovers, the last of which came with less than 10 seconds remaining in the game and the Rockets trailing by two. Houston had a chance to win. Westbrook threw it away. The Rockets were forced to foul, and Thunder free throws sealed the victory.
Granted, Westbrook wasn't the only Rocket who got loose with the ball Monday night. Houston committed 22 turnovers, only the eighth time this season it had 20 or more in a game and the first time in the playoffs it has happened.
“You can't have 22 turnovers,” Houston coach Mike D'Antoni said. “We try to get less than 10.
“Twenty-two just sealed our fate.”
Why so many in Game 6? “That's my fault,” Westbrook said afterward. “Last game, I had zero. Tonight, I had seven.”
He paused.
“Simple as that.”
Some of his seven turnovers were caused by the Thunder, reaching in and getting a hand on the ball or anticipating a play and stepping in a passing lane. But some were just careless.
He had two in the last two minutes of the game that were killer.
Two possessions before the no-look to no one — oh, Robert Covington was in the same zip code, I suppose — Westbrook tried to cross over Chris Paul but didn't keep a tight enough handle on the ball. That small mistake, that little bit of space allowed Paul to get a finger tip on the ball and knock it loose.
Turnovers weren't Westbrook's only struggle. He missed several shots he would normally make, most notably that airballed jumper late in the game. Even though he had a basket in transition that gave the Rockets a 100-98 lead with a little over a minute left, that airball was a sign of continuing Russ rust.
Monday was the first time Westbrook had been pushed in a real, live game in nearly three weeks. Even though he played Saturday in Game 5, he saw limited action because the Rockets blew out the Thunder. Westbrook and just about every other Houston starter had a shorter night than normal.
That wasn't the case Monday, and Westbrook hadn't been in a situation like since Aug. 11, the day he injured his right quad in a seeding game against San Antonio.
“It's tough,” D'Antoni said. “It's tough to get back right in the middle of a series when you've been out for a couple three weeks.”
Not to mention that the series is against Westbrook's former team. A franchise he was with for 11 years. An organization that he became not only the face of but also the heart and soul.
This series is mental and physical for Westbrook.
“Just trying to figure out rhythm and timing,” Westbrook said, “but you know, we'll figure it out next game.”
That's something else we've seen a lot over the years from Westbrook — unshakeable confidence.
Yes, Russ was his normal self after a loss. Short answers to questions. Limited eye contact. But there was that confidence, too. And while we have witnessed that we'll-getit-fixed, you'll-see attitude in moments like that, it sure is odd to see it from the other side.
Because the fact of the matter is, Westbrook looked like he was a million miles from figuring it out Monday night.
What he will do Wednesday night is anyone's guess. Game 7s are a wonderful, intense, scary, awesome thing. He might score 60 points, or he might throw it to Casper the Friendly Ghost at crunch time again.
Say this much for Westbrook, though — he helped the Thunder get to its first Game 7 in ages.