For the third straight game, OKC did enough things right to give itself a chance to win on the road in the final four minutes. But as has been the norm in 2017 so far, Russell Westbrook couldn’t close the game when it mattered as the Thunder lost to the Rockets by a 118-116 count on Thursday night.
It was a wonderful game to watch from an entertainment standpoint. OKC led by as many as fourteen points in the first period and trailed by as many as eighteen points late in the third period. It was a game of runs and runs being answered. It was a game featuring the two leading MVP frontrunners. But here’s the thing, even though Russell Westbrook scored 49 points it didn’t matter because it will be his last shot which defined this game and the Thunder to this point in the season.
With the score tied and the clock around 24 seconds and a three second gap left between the game and shot clock—OKC had the ball and called timeout. What they talked about I have no idea. Because no semblance of a basketball play transpired. Russell Westbrook dribbled the clock down then jacked a contested three. No penetration. No backing his man down. Just that—jacking a three.
3.8 seconds left and you know what Mike D’Antoni and James Harden decided to do, they decide to run a basketball play. Imagine that. Who would have thought? Nene ends up with the ball down low, gets fouled, makes two free throws and the game is basically over with .7 seconds left. Ball game. Houston wins its sixth straight while Oklahoma City loses its third straight.
Russell Westbrook did have a marvelous scoring night, but if Aaron Rogers passes for four hundred yards, but throws an interception with twenty seconds left that’s kind of the thought you carry around with you in retrospect.
I challenged Andre Roberson to so something in my last recap and he answered tonight with a 14 point, 9 rebound, 2 steal game. But even more, he held James Harden to another subpar shooting night and 26 points. Roberson pulled his link on the proverbial chain.
Enes Kanter was good in this game and was instrumental as the Thunder made their comeback in the fourth period. Kanter double doubled with 15 and 13, but quit getting touches as the game wore down. Same with Victor Oladipo who hit four threes on the night, but still didn’t have the trust of Russell Westbrook when it mattered late in the game. Note to Russell, please pass the f–king ball.
Stat of the night–Houston 27 assists, OKC 15 assists. This is really a very simple game. You move the ball, create space, then finish. If you don’t move the ball, you don’t contend for championships. This isn’t differential equations.
Russell Westbrook is a beautiful basketball player with the heart of a warrior,no pun intended, but until he learns how to trust his teammates this team is in for more of these finishes when they’re playing against playoff caliber teams.
If you doubt my word, ask Mo Cheeks—he knows.
OKC drops to 21-16 and down to seventh place in the West.
At home on Saturday night against the Denver Nuggets.