NBA Preview: Russell Westbrook is about to join Oscar Robertson for one historic record and pass him for another one.
Oklahoma City Thunder (45-33) at Phoenix Suns (22-57), 10 p.m. EST
Line: Thunder -8. Total 226.
Russell Westbrook is going to be the MVP of the league this year. At least, he should be. There is still a vote pending when the regular season finishes.
Westbrook is silencing any doubters with his late-season push to eclipse Oscar Robertson’s record of 41 triple-doubles in a season set back in 1961-62. He tied Robertson’s record on April 4 against Milwaukee. He missed breaking Robertson’s record by one rebound on April 5 against Memphis.
The numbers Westbrook is putting up this season are astounding. He recorded his seventh triple-double in a row for the second time this season on April 4, hence becoming the first player in NBA history to accomplish that feat. Westbrook is six assists shy of averaging a triple double for the season. When he gets those six assists tonight, he will join Robertson in becoming the second player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire season.
The Thunder travel to Phoenix tonight and the Suns are presenting Westbrook with yet another opportunity to make history. Westbrook has sliced and diced the Suns this season. Here are his stat lines from his three games against Phoenix this season:
October 28: 51 points, 10 assists and 13 rebounds.
December 17: 26 points, 22 assists and 11 rebounds.
March 3: 48 points, 9 assists and 17 rebounds.
The aggregate total of those three games reads like this: 41.7 points per game (PPG), 13.7 assists per game (APG) and 13.7 rebounds per game (RPG).
Westbrook is trying to become the first player in NBA history to average 40 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds (40-10-10) against one team in the regular season (minimum of 3 games played). Westbrook already has his 10-10 clinched for APG and RPG before he even steps on to the court. He needs 35 points tonight to get his 40 PPG against the Suns this season and make history again.
James Harden picked the wrong time to have a monster season for the Houston Rockets. There are many past seasons where Harden probably would have been MVP with the numbers he has been putting up. Harden is leading the league in assists (11.2 APG) and is second in scoring (29.2 PPG). Westbrook leads the league in scoring (31.8 PPG), is third in assists (10.4 APS) and is tenth in rebounding (10.7 RPG).
Harden and Westbrook have been neck and neck most of the season according to most prognosticators. Some of the writers and television personalities have been calling for Harden and Westbrook to be co-MVPs.
To be honest, about a month ago I would have agreed. I thought it would be a shame to have either one of these players not get the MVP award and sharing the award made sense. However, Westbrook has separated himself from Harden over the past four weeks.
Westbrook started a streak of four straight triple-doubles and 11 triple-doubles in 13 games on March 9 against the Spurs. He logged 23 points, 13 assists and 13 rebounds against San Antonio in a 102-92 win.
The triple-doubles just kept coming. Westbrook set another record for most points scored in a triple-double with 57 at Orlando on March 29. However, he had some luck because this game went into overtime. Westbrook had 47 points, 9 assists and 9 rebounds in regulation time. The overtime period enabled Westbrook to get triple-double #38 and break Harden’s record for most points in a triple-double (53) that Harden accomplished back on December 31.
Harden put up some amazing numbers in his triple-double against the Knicks on New Year’s Eve, a 129-122 victory. He had 53 points, 17 assists and 16 rebounds. Unfortunately, his record only lasted 77 days and sadly for Harden, nobody is going to remember that Westbrook was only able to break his record because the game against Orlando went into overtime.
The Phoenix Suns have shut done most of their veterans since the All-Star break because their front office wants to see their young players get more playing time during the second half of the season. Second-year shooting guard Devin Booker scored 70 points against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on March 24. Some people will say that Booker’s 70 points are a bit tainted because the Suns were getting blown out. As a result, the Suns’ players were fouling the Celtics’ players on purpose a few times in the final minute of the game. This gave Phoenix extra possessions for Booker to throw up shots, hence the reason he was able to reach 70 points.
Westbrook should get triple-double #42 tonight to break the record for most triple-doubles in a season. Phoenix will not be able to stop him unless something fluky happens. Westbrook should get his triple-double by the midway point of the third quarter.
The home team has won all three meetings this season. Two of the games went over the total and the one game that stayed under did so by half a point.
Finally, be on the lookout for a sportsbook posting a prop bet tonight on Russell Westbrook. If you find one asking whether he will get his triple-double tonight, bet “yes” on that.
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