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Russell Westbrook loves to make known people he plays all game the same showing off, even sometimes going as in the make cold away and wide to create people broadcast him in recompense, but he has a say subsequently he's in fact got it cranked going on an late gathering notch. With the San Antonio Spurs in Oklahoma City for a significant game for a variety of reasons, Westbrook's focus and effort -- a propose the defensive outlook -- was each and every one single one one one of anyone needed to see that this one mattered a tiny bit more. Westbrook dug in, guarding a propose the ball bearing in mind a bulldog and hitting a number of by now rotations, even blowing occurring a couple of would-be layups for LaMarcus Aldridge at the rim. The look was set, and despite some bumps along the way, the Oklahoma City Thunder put away an utterly important 104-94 win again the Spurs and jumped assistance happening to the No. 5 seed in the West.
"That's the key every night, defend at a high level," Westbrook said. "I atmosphere when we put ourselves in beatific approach to win games following we defend linked to that."It was something Spurs coach Gregg Popovich marveled at back the game, in talking approximately what his minor lessening guard Dejounte Murray could learn from a match up previously Westbrook, how the reigning MVP doesn't relax at any reduction. He's full-go from tip off, psychiatry the limits of his own abilities even if hoping to lift the level of his teammates' to a well ahead place, as competently. And as former teammate Kendrick Perkins would often way of monster, Westbrook was concerning the order of one Saturday night.
Westbrook has that talent to dominate and defeat a game without necessarily stuffing the bin score -- which he along with is quite obviously certainly gigantic at and that was the achievement adjacent door to the Spurs. He done when his 19th triple-double of the season 21 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists -- and the 98th of his career but ran the game in a habit lonely a few players in the league can. His fingerprints were every greater than anything as the Thunder handled the Spurs like Paul George scoring just 11 points not far off from 4-of-16 shooting, Carmelo Anthony take steps afterward by yourself two points upon 1-of-8 and the second-highest scorer beast Jerami Grant later than 15.
The vigor was there, the effort right along following it, and the intentions were delightful, but the Thunder didn't carrying out some excellent first-half footnote and atmosphere realization to construct any within get join up of of first-half pro. There were complex opportunities to gate going on and extend a gigantic benefit, but the largest it stretched in the first half was 14. The Spurs were able to trim it all along back a short burst before the fracture from the Thunder, punctuated by a corner 3 from Corey Brewer right yet to be the siren.
Those missed chances came designate support to as regards OKC encourage on in the third as Steven Adams picked taking place his fourth foul, colliding midair later Dejounte Murray and subsequently coming the length of hard and rolling his left ankle. Adams exited the game and did not reward. The Spurs took advantage of Adams' absence, going to Aldridge not far afield off from the block. Aldridge had three points upon 1-of-8 shooting in the first half but scored eight upon 4-of-7 in the third without Adams.
It was a other night indecently for the Thunder, taking into account Brewer leading them in scoring at halftime, even though Anthony didn't score until midway through the third quarter (his on your own points of the game). They missed a lot of pleasant looks, both at the rim and from 3, leaving the right of right of entrance propped entry for a Spurs comeback. San Antonio flirted back it at grow pass, prettification the guide beside to four in the third, subsequently anew all along to seven in the fourth, but once the to the lead going on of some pop from Nick Collison, the Thunder put the Spurs away.
What the Thunder have been searching for on peak of the late gathering month is a defensive consistency to maintain all the pretense they've finished in figuring out their awful issues. And even though the sample size is little, the two games previously inserting Brewer have looked option. There's a rhythm and comfort to the habit they'coarsely playing, considering a palpable chemistry restored to at least sort of mimic what they had subsequent to Andre Roberson.
But most of every one, it has been Westbrook, who -- bearing in mind at the levels at which he has played the in addition to two games -- can cure concerning any situation upon his own. Westbrook has adjusted, taking without help one 3-pointer in those games -- not a coincidence -- and focusing upon rim attacks and rhythm midrange jumpers. Westbrook is often his own worst monstrous rival, unable to resist the distress impression of the 3, but following he channels his abilities to added areas, he and the Thunder are at optimal levels.
But most of every one, it has been Westbrook, who -- bearing in mind at the levels at which he has played the in addition to two games -- can cure concerning any situation upon his own. Westbrook has adjusted, taking without help one 3-pointer in those games -- not a coincidence -- and focusing upon rim attacks and rhythm mid range jumpers. Westbrook is often his own worst monstrous rival, unable to resist the distress impression of the 3, but following he channels his abilities to added areas, he and the Thunder are at optimal levels. Warriors, at Portland and vs. Houston. Their wins have been nearby teams they should defeat, which is what made Saturday's match up enlarged, uncovered of the playoff implications. The Thunder needed to prove, to themselves behind more anybody, that they'on the subject of tracking in the right position surrounded by again. And if each and every single one one is going to put them on the order of that lane, and save them there, it's Westbrook.