Despite the bad news that Kevin Durant is out indefinitely and could miss the rest of the season, the Oklahoma City Thunder continue to find ways to win. The main reason: Russell Westbrook. Westbrook scored 17 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Thunder past the Atlanta Hawks 123-115 on Friday night.
Not only is Durant doubtful for the rest of the season, but Serge Ibaka may also miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. Enes Kanter missed Friday's game with a sprained left ankle, and Nick Collison was in a boot and on crutches after Friday's game with a high ankle sprain on his left foot.
Despite all of that, the Thunder became the first team in NBA history to go from 9 games under .500 to 9 games over .500 in the same season. Westbrook also added 10 rebounds and 14 assists to record his 9th triple-double of the season, and 17th of his career.
He was also a perfect 17-for-17 from the free throw line, the most by a player without a miss this season. He has made a combined 36 free throws the previous 2 games, the most by any player in a 2-game stretch since his teammate Durant made 41 on January 18th and 20th of 2013.
Dion Waiters scored a season-high 26 points, while Anthony Morrow scored 12 of his 21 points in the fourth, and Steven Adams contributed a double-double of 12 points and 16 rebounds.
Pero Antic scored a career-high 22 points, while Dennis Schroder added 21 for the Hawks in the loss. Atlanta, coming off a blowout loss at Golden State, loss the final 2 games of their road trip, after taking 3 of the first 4.
Atlanta shot a solid 58 percent from the floor in the first half, propelling them to a 7-point lead at the half. Antic matched his previous career-high with 18 points in the first half alone, while Schroder had 12 at the break.
Westbrook had 19 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds for OKC at the half. The Hawks led by as many as 12 in the third quarter, but the Thunder outscored the Hawks by 13 in the fourth to come back and pull away.
Oklahoma City improved to 39-30 on the season and will host the Miami Heat tomorrow afternoon. The Hawks fell to 53-16 and will host the San Antonio Spurs tomorrow.
Not only is Durant doubtful for the rest of the season, but Serge Ibaka may also miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. Enes Kanter missed Friday's game with a sprained left ankle, and Nick Collison was in a boot and on crutches after Friday's game with a high ankle sprain on his left foot.
Despite all of that, the Thunder became the first team in NBA history to go from 9 games under .500 to 9 games over .500 in the same season. Westbrook also added 10 rebounds and 14 assists to record his 9th triple-double of the season, and 17th of his career.
He was also a perfect 17-for-17 from the free throw line, the most by a player without a miss this season. He has made a combined 36 free throws the previous 2 games, the most by any player in a 2-game stretch since his teammate Durant made 41 on January 18th and 20th of 2013.
Dion Waiters scored a season-high 26 points, while Anthony Morrow scored 12 of his 21 points in the fourth, and Steven Adams contributed a double-double of 12 points and 16 rebounds.
Pero Antic scored a career-high 22 points, while Dennis Schroder added 21 for the Hawks in the loss. Atlanta, coming off a blowout loss at Golden State, loss the final 2 games of their road trip, after taking 3 of the first 4.
Atlanta shot a solid 58 percent from the floor in the first half, propelling them to a 7-point lead at the half. Antic matched his previous career-high with 18 points in the first half alone, while Schroder had 12 at the break.
Westbrook had 19 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds for OKC at the half. The Hawks led by as many as 12 in the third quarter, but the Thunder outscored the Hawks by 13 in the fourth to come back and pull away.
Oklahoma City improved to 39-30 on the season and will host the Miami Heat tomorrow afternoon. The Hawks fell to 53-16 and will host the San Antonio Spurs tomorrow.
