Russell Westbrook is having a fantastic season. “It’s just how much you can limit his early penetration”. Westbrook enjoyed helping them get baskets. He just can’t stop putting the stats on the board. “That’s what I try to do”.
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The only thing for certain is that Miami would love to have Westbrook, who could be the second National Basketball Association player ever to average a triple-double for an entire season. “This is one of those injuries that has a wide range of time that it could take to recover and get back to playing.”.
In addition to Westbrook’s customary heroics, the Thunder (20-12) outscored Miami 58-32 in the paint. Hassan Whiteside is averaging 18 points, 14.9 rebounds and 2.35 blocks per game this year to lead the team.
James Johnson had 16 points and fellow reserve Tyler Johnson scored 15 for Miami.
“It’s important for me to know how to close games”, Westbrook said.
“We did everything we could to play them as well as possible”, LaVine said. “I’m not sure anybody can sit down and stop him”.
The Heat were without point guard Goran Dragic, sidelined by back spasms. After another spectacular assist and a Minnesota timeout, Westbrook excitedly swung his right hand to meet those of a group of fans in the first row. But Johnson quickly returned.
The Miami Heat will be without Dion Waiters (groin), while Rodney McGruder (ankle) and Wayne Ellington (hamstring) are considered questionable.
Joe Ingles came off the bench to score 13 points, and Ruby Gobert collected 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Jazz, who improved to 3-0 this season against the Lakers. Twice in the final 3 minutes they sent him to the line – he missed all four free throws – but Donovan left him in the game. While the Miami defense is holding opponents to just 101.4 points per game, the offense is averaging only 98.6 points per game. Miami lost its most recent game on the road to the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night, 91-87.
The fight and tenacity the Timberwolves played with in the first half was absent in the second half and Oklahoma City stayed on the attack. The game’s stat leaders were all Thunder teammates.
The Thunder led 54-39 at halftime.
The Thunder, which shot 51.2 percent from the floor for the game, were never seriously challenged in the fourth. He scored a career-high 44 points, including 36 in the second half, in a 112-109 overtime win over the Memphis Grizzlies on December 20. The closest was two weeks ago against IN when coach Erik Spoelstra had 13 available players, the only injured player on the bench being Dion Waiters.
“He has great energy every single day”.
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“It’s a great lesson to our young guys”.
