Thunder's Russell Westbrook has seventh straight triple-double
OKLAHOMA CITY -- With a rebound midway through the fourth quarter, Russell Westbrook notched his seventh consecutive triple-double, the longest such streak since Michael Jordanhad seven in a row in 1989.
But as one streak continued, another ended, as the Houston Rocketswon 102-99 to snap the Oklahoma City Thunder's six-game winning streak. Westbrook finished with 27 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists and sparked a 13-point comeback, but the Thunder fell short, with Westbrook and Anthony Morrow both airballing potential go-ahead 3-pointers in the final 30 seconds.
Afterward, Westbrook was in no mood to discuss the achievement, flashing only a cold glare coupled with awkward silence when he was asked about it.
Westbrook got deep into the paint twice in the closing minutes with a chance to put the Thunder ahead but missed two left-handed layups. He also set up Victor Oladipo on a three-on-two fast break with 29 seconds left, but Oladipo was unable to finish the layup.
"Just missing," Westbrook said. "Missing easy layups."
After picking up the triple-double, his 12th of the season and 49th of his career, Westbrook didn't have another rebound or assist for the final 7:41 of the game. He did score 12 of the Thunder's final 18 points.
Westbrook was just 8-of-25 from the floor and turned it over eight times while being hounded by nemesis Patrick Beverley, although hewas unwilling to credit Beverley's defense on him.
"I missed a lot of easy shots, man. Honestly, brother," Westbrook said. "I haven't made no shots in the last month. S---, so, just gotta get my mind right."
Beverley, though, had no problem praising Westbrook.
"He's a really good," Beverley said, pausing. "He's a really, really, really, really, really, really, really good player.
"You got to think I got all my friends telling me, 'Don't let him get a triple-double. Don't let him get a triple-double,'" Beverley said. "Like I said, he's one of the best players in the league. I'm just happy we were fortunate to get a win today."
According to research by ESPN Stats & Information, Westbrook is now 4-of-27 in his career on potential go-ahead shots in the final 10 seconds of the fourth quarter and overtime. He has missed 10 of his past 11 such attempts.
"I thought we got the ball where we wanted to," Thunder coach Billy Donovan said. "The last two possessions, in particular the underneath, out-of-bounds play with 16 seconds left, I think we got the ball where we wanted to for Russell. ... I felt like we got Russell the ball in a pretty good spot for himself where he can play and create and make things happen. Unfortunately, he lost control of the ball a little bit, but I think we had him right where we wanted him to catch it."
The Thunder are now 9-3 this season when Westbrook has a triple-double, with the three losses coming by a combined nine points.
Westbrook is one of only four players to register at least seven consecutive triple-doubles, joining Jordan, Oscar Robertson and Wilt Chamberlain. He can pass Jordan on Sunday against the Boston Celticsand move within one of the longest streak ever, set by Chamberlain in 1968.
