The Magic look to sweep the season series from the Thunder in Orlando.
Advertisement
A few weeks ago, when the Dallas Mavericks were in the midst of a four-game winning streak, owner Mark Cuban declared that his team was in a win-win situation. OKC weathered a sudden explosion from Mavs rookie Yogi Ferrell, who fired 11 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter.
Sunday’s loss in Houston didn’t necessarily cost Russell Westbrook his shot at the MVP trophy, because voters are surely too shrewd to make a decision of this magnitude on a one-game basis.
Westbrook had seven points in overtime.
With nine games remaining in the National Basketball Association season, Russell Westbrook is just four triple-doubles shy of tying Oscar Robertson’s season record of 41 set during the 1961-62 season.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, featuring undeniable superstar Russell Westbrook, is 41-31 but has as of late experienced struggles against marquee foes.
“You know, he’s affecting the game in a lot of ways, so that’s tough”.
“I told him the one thing he can control is effort, he can control speed, and he can go get things and run down things that other guys can’t”, Cuban said.
“It’s very important, especially after how we lost yesterday”, Westbrook said.
Jeremy Woo has the Oklahoma City Thunder falling two spots this week to seventh.
FOX Sports Oklahoma HD and FOX Sports SouthWest are providing the Live Streaming game for their local people and fans.
On this rollercoaster night, Westbrook’s aplomb overrode 45 minutes of faulty execution from Oklahoma City. After winning the game against Dallas, he went around and thumped all of his teammates on the chest.
How unusual is this on back-to-back nights?
Oklahoma City improved to 30-7 this season when Westbrook notches a triple-double. “I wouldn’t say I was in tears disappointed about the trade”, Oladipo said before the game. “He generated a really good shot”.
Harrison Barnes then rattled a deep three off the side of the rim, and that was that. “We had some open looks there, but we just couldn’t get some of them to drop”. “We just trust him”. Dallas has beaten the Thunder once in March but it has also won against Memphis, Washington and the L.A. Clippers in the past month. The road team is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings and the over is 4-1 in the last five meetings in Orlando.
“It just happened so fast”, said Nerlens Noel, who scored 15 points along with Matthews to lead Dallas.
Advertisement
The Thunder’s game-ending run left the Mavs stunned. Of course, the Thunder also moved to 30-7 (.810) when he registers such a stat line in 2016-17. The Mavericks will now try to replicate that defensive success on Westbrook during Monday’s matchup. “He can get a full run and you’re kind of backing up because at that point you’re anxious about him getting to the rim”. “The third quarter was key”.
