Westbrook wows
Oklahoma City star ties single-season triple-double record
OKLAHOMA CITY — For just a few moments, Russell Westbrook slowed down.
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s mile-a-minute point guard took the time to soak up the atmosphere on Tuesday night after he matched Oscar Robertson’ s single-seasonrecord with his 41 st triple double.
The home crowd stood and chanted “MVP! MVP!” long after the assist, and he later waved to the throng after play stopped.
“It’s one of those nights, a special night, and something I definitely will never forget,” he said. “I’m just truly honored to do it here, especially in Oklahoma City.”
Westbrook finished with 12 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists to help the Thunder beat the Milwaukee Bucks 110-79. He clinched his seventh straight triple-double on an assist to Taj Gibson with 9:17 left in the third quarter.
“It’s an honor just to be mentioned in a conversation with Oscar Robertson, the different things he did for this game, to allow me to play today,” he said.
Robertson set the record during the 1961-62 season, and Westbrook can break it on Wednesday in Memphis. Westbrook said he just wanted to focus on the moment, yet his mind raced ahead to someday telling his unborn son about the experience.
“It’s something that I could never dream about growing up in the inner city of Los Angeles,” he said. “I never dreamed about a moment like this, to be on this stage.”
Westbrook also moved into a tie with Wilt Chamberlain for fourth on the career list with his 78th triple-double.
Westbrook is nearing a triple-double average for the season. He clinched a doublefigure rebound average during Tuesday’s game and needs 16 assists to average 10 for the season.
It’s something that I could never dream about ... I never dreamed about a moment like this, to be on this stage.” Russell Westbrook
“I airballed a 3 right after that. But at the same time, we were winning, and that’s the most important thing. Tonight was a great night,” said Westbrook, on trying to focus after tying Robertson.
Bucks coach Jason Kidd, who is third all-time with 107 triple-doubles, was impressed with Westbrook’s ability to dominate without scoring as much as usual.
Westbrook, the NBA scoring leader, made just four field goals.
“He didn’t have to score 40 tonight to help them win,” said Kidd. “It showed that he was sharing the ball, and everybody was benefiting.”
Enes Kanter scored 17 points for the Thunder, who posted their largest victory margin of the season.
Michael Beasley scored 14 points and Giannis Antetokounmpo added 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Bucks.
Milwaukee had been one of the league’s hottest teams. Kidd was voted Eastern Conference coach of the month after leading the Bucks to a 14-4 record in March, and though they lost to Dallas on Sunday, their recent success gained the Thunder’s full attention.
Westbrook had 12 points, eight rebounds and eight assists by halftime to help Oklahoma City take a 63-39 lead. He hit a 3-pointer with 8.6 seconds left in the first half to reach double figures in points.
Westbrook got his 10th rebound and 10th assist six seconds apart. He left the game for good with 2:35 left in the third quarter.
“You could feel in the building, and you could see that his teammates were not going to let him down tonight,” Kidd said.
Tip-ins
Bucks: Made just 3 of 18 3-pointers and shot just 36 percent overall ... They were outrebounded 53-38.
Thunder: Westbrook has matched a career best with his seven straight triple-doubles ... OKC improved to 32-9 this season when West brook gets a triple-double ... Alex Abrines left the game in the second quarter with a sprained left knee and did not return. He made four of six 3-pointers in 12 minutes ... Oklahoma City’s bench scored 65 points.