Westbrook Simply Amazing in Thunder’s Improbable Comeback Win Over Dallas Mavs

If Russell Westbrook needed a closing argument as to why he’s this season’s MVP then he made it on Monday night in Dallas at the American Airlines Arena. The OKC Thunder won a basketball game they had no business whatsoever winning by coming back from thirteen points down with four minutes left. It was vintage Westbrook as he carried his team scoring in every imaginable fashion as the Thunder roared back with Westbrook hitting the game winner from the top of the key with seven seconds left to give the Thunder a stunning 92-91 win. And, oh, btw, the reason OKC even had that possession was the same Russell Westbrook caused a J.J. Barea turnover with thirteen seconds left which gave the Thunder a chance to win without playing the foul game.

Russell Westbrook notched his 37th triple double of the season. His line was 37 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists. He would have had many other assists, but it like kind of like takes a teammate who can make a shot for an assist to be registered. I’ll get to the rest of the team in a bit as I have a rant festering. But on this night, it’s more of a case of appreciating Russell Westbrook.

OKC is now 30-7 in games in which Westbrook has triple doubled and 12-24 in which he hasn’t. On this night, I’m not sure his teammates by themselves could have beaten St. Mary’s high school team, let alone the Dallas Mavs, and that in a nutshell is why the MVP voting should ultimately go Westbrook’s way.

OKC trailed by 15 points at the half and his teammates in a word were abysmal bordering on horrific. If Billy Donovan didn’t throw a chair against a wall and say ‘are you fucking kidding me’ at least a dozen times during the intermission it would qualify as coaching malpractice. Former OCU coaching icon Abe Lemmons would have kept these Bad News Bears on the floor practicing during the break…especially Alex Abrines and Semaj Christon who both played at D League levels on Monday night and were unwatchable. Enes Kanter was bad as well, which was a surprise and it left Westbrook without any scoring crutch as none of his teammates could do anything offensively. I have no idea how he worked ten assists.

So, in essence, Westbrook had little help in this game and yet somehow willed his team to a win which now has these Bad News Bears only one game behind the Clippers for a No. 5 seed in the West.

OKC as a team hasn’t turned any corners, it’s just that every time you think Russell Westbrook can’t reach any deeper to save these Bad News Bears from themselves he somehow does and this group somehow stands at 42-31 with nine games remaining.

Nothing against James Harden, but it would be a major crime if Russell Westbrook doesn’t win the MVP.

OKC in Orlando on Wednesday night with Westbrook going for No. 38. Hopefully, several of his teammates show up.

Here’s Brett Dawson of newsok with the wrap up. Dawson and Erik Horne do a nice job covering the Thunder.

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