Russell Westbrook Triple-Double Watch: Game 40, vs. Memphis

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook is threatening to become the first NBA player to average a triple-double since Cincinnati Royals Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson achieved the double-figure points, assists and rebounds mark during the 1961-62 NBA season. A lot has changed in the league since then, which is why Westbrook’s current averages of 31.2 points, 10.6 rebounds and 10.4 assists would make such a feat a remarkable achievement in line with some of the greatest individual seasons in NBA history. If not the greatest individual season in NBA history.

As Westbrook takes on each new opponent while the OKC season drawls on, we’ll be updating his chances at matching the Big O’s feat.

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In a season that hasn’t seen too many things go terribly wrong for the legend at work, it is sometimes hard to believe that Russell Westbrook can have an off night.

He’s had a few. The worst (if not the most-notable) of which came against Memphis earlier this season, when Westbrook missed 13 of 19 shots while managing six turnovers and zero assists in a loss that also saw him ejected from the contest.

Russell topped that ejection off tempting the ire of the NBA by telling reporters that his style of game “doesn’t get the benefit of the doubt” from referees.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen, as you’d hope he would, reacted:

As you’d also hope the whole league would, the NBA has scheduled Allen’s Memphis Grizzlies to take on Westbrook’s Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday evening, with the Thunder aching like mad to sustain a two-game winning streak that featured impressive wins over Denver and in Chicago.

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The Grizz figure to be fully rested after Monday and Tuesday off, with Allen and lead guard Mike Conley ready for what Westbrook throws at them. The third-ranked defense this season, the 24-16 Grizz are a half-game up on the Thunder for the sixth spot in the Western Conference, a year after Memphis (then working with the league’s 19th-best ranking on that end) allowed Russell to average 24.3 points (on 58 percent shooting), 12.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds a contest.

OKC took two of three 2015-16 meetings, with the only loss coming when the Kevin Durant-less Thunder watched as Westbrook went off for 40 points and 14 assists, but with eight turnovers as the Grizzlies prevailed.

Off course, Jeff Green was there for that one, too.

(As a Grizzly.)

Even a terrible game from Westbrook, this deep into the season, would not result in him dropping out of either his triple-double averages or his 30-point average on the season.

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Kelly Dwyer is an editor for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at KDonhoops@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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