The Anticipation Is Over, Westbrook Hits Game-Winner and Breaks Robertson's Record.
By A. Suave Francisco
Russell Westbrook's season filled with a plethora of milestones finally reached its peak after Westbrook broke Oscar Robertson's 55-year old record for most triple-doubles in a single season. This was his 42nd and third 50 point triple-double which is also the most of all-time in a single-season. Putting the cherry on top, Westbrook hit the game-wining shot from 25 feet out which all but diminished Denver's playoffs aspirations. OKC won 106-105.
James Harden and Russell Westbrook have been the front-runners for the NBA's Most Valuable Player this year, with Harden being the favorite because of his team's (53-26) record, 8 games better than the Thunder. After this performance along with various others, Russell has surpassed Harden for this year's MVP award.
Westbrook exploded for 50 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists on 32 shots (53.1 percent) shooting and 41 percent from three. He also shot a perfect 11-of-11 from the free throw line.
Nothing screams Most Valuable Player more than three straight road games where the opposing team's fans were cheering for an opposing player. Sunday afternoon in Denver, every time Russell touched the ball in the second half, the fans would stand up and begin to cheer for his next assist. The anticipation started at the start of this road trip in Memphis, where he fell just one rebound shy of the triple-double and two days ago in Phoenix where he fell 2 rebounds and 2 assists short. Either way, both in Memphis and in Phoenix, the surprising anticipation from opposing fans should be the determining factor for the MVP award.
Oklahoma City improved to (45-34) on the season with two games remaining against the Minnesota Timberwolves, which wraps up their final regular season road trip. They will close out the regular season at home against the team they beat today, the Denver Nuggets, who sit 2 games behind the Portland Trail Blazers for the eighth and final spot in the playoffs.