Russell Westbrook continues late-game heroics with game-winning shot to topple Grizzlies
In a season full of even more triple-doubles, Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook had one of his best games with just 11 total rebounds and assists.
Westbrook turned on the offensive jets late in Sunday’s 99-95 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, as he scored 12 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, including the game-winning shot with 32.9 seconds left.
After the teams traded leads for much of the first half, the Grizzlies pulled ahead on Delon Wright’s layup with 3:26 left and led until the closing minute of the game.
Westbrook had just 10 points entering the fourth quarter, but when he checked in with 8:32 left, he made his presence felt. The 30-year-old took five of the team’s final eight shots and guided the comeback, as he alone outscored Memphis 12-6 in the final six and a half minutes.
Westbrook cut the deficit to five with a deep three and pair of free throws with three minutes left, but he took over in the last 64 seconds. With Dennis Schroder handling the ball, he caught a pass, pump-faked and shot directly over Avery Bradley to tie the game.
Russell Westbrook ties the ballgame from the left wing!#ThunderUp 93#GrindCity 93
1:04 to play on @NBATV pic.twitter.com/RibZkES1eg— NBA (@NBA) March 4, 2019
At that point, the Grizzlies were toast. After Justin Holiday missed a short shot, Westbrook hit a 19-foot floater to give the Thunder their first lead in more than 26 minutes. Wright countered with a missed three, and after trading free throws, the Thunder held on for a win to snap their four-game losing streak.
This is nothing new for Westbrook, who has become the premier late-game scorer over the last three seasons. His 15 go-ahead field goals in the final minute during that stretch are the most in the NBA.
Where does this leave the Thunder in the playoff picture?
Despite the four-game losing streak, the Thunder remain third in the West and only moved from four games back of the Golden State Warriors to five games back.
The lull was certainly well-timed with the Warriors also dropping three of five, although the Thunder do find themselves tied with the Portland Trail Blazers now.
The Thunder are still a near-lock to make the playoffs and are likely going to get home-court advantage in the first round, but their chances of making the NBA Finals remain small. According to FiveThirtyEight, they are tied with the Houston Rockets for the second-best chance of making it out of the West at seven percent. The Warriors still have a 77 percent chance of winning the conference, so the Thunder will need a lot more late-game (and early-game) heroics from Westbrook.
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