Paul George dropped 47 points for the Oklahoma City Thunder, including 25 points in the fourth quarter during a dazzling comeback victory against the Brooklyn Nets 114-112.
The Thunder stormed back from a 23-point deficit to win the game in the closing seconds on a three-point jumper from George. He single-handedly outscored the Nets 25-19 in the fourth quarter. The Thunder improved to 16-7 and extended their current winning streak to four games.
Russell Westbrook chipped in the 108th triple double of his career. Westbrook passed Jason Kidd and moved into third place on the NBA’s career triple double list trailing Oscar Robertson (181) and Magic Johnson (138).
Swiss Cheese D
The Nets (8-18) choked at home once again. They lack a home-court advantage with an anemic 3-10 record in Brooklyn.
The Thunder and George got off to a slow start. George began the night shooting a terrible 1 for 6 clip in the first quarter. The Nets pulled away in the second quarter and led until the closing moments of the game.
The Nets blew a 23-point lead against one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. The Thunder hunkered down on defense and held the Nets to only 19 points. On the other side of the ball, Paul George put on a clinic for the Brooklynites in attendance. The comeback marked the largest in OKC history.
“Yeah, it felt good,” George said. “I had the hot hand, I knew I had the hot hand. I just felt good all game.”
George unleashed 25 of his game-high 47 points in the fourth quarter. No one in a Nets uniform could stop George. He finished the night one point shy of his career record.
RWB Triple Double Machine
Westbrook finished the night with 21 points, 17 assists, and 15 rebounds. That marked his 108th triple double of his career. He passed Jason Kidd, who both played for and coached the Nets, who had 107 career triple doubles in his illustrious career.
Only four players in NBA history posted 100 or more triple doubles. Jason Kidd is fourth now in NBA history with 107. Westbrook moved into third with 108 and he’s got his eyes on Magic Johnson. With the Lakers, Magic posted a marvelous 139 triple doubles.
NBA Career Triple Doubles
1. Oscar Robertson 181
2. Magic Johnson 139
3. Russell Westbrook 108
4. Jason Kidd 107
5. Wilt Chamberlin 78
6. LeBron James 74
7. Larry Bird 59
8. Fat Lever 43
9. James Harden 36
10. Bob Cousy 33
The Big O, Oscar Robertson, holds the record that might not be broken. With 181 triple doubles, the Big O has 73 more.
Westbrook, 30, is in his tenth season in the NBA and averaging a triple double (22.7 ppg, 10.1 rebounds, and 10 assists). He finished the last two seasons averaging more than a triple double.
Way OK in OKC
The Thunder are in second place in the Northwest, which is the toughest division in the NBA. They trail the red-hot Denver Nuggets (17-7) by a half-game in the standings. The Nuggets won seven in a row and the Thunder are trying their best to keep pace.
The Thunder started the season with Westbrook sidelined due to an injury. OKC stumbled out of the gate with a four-game losing streak. Since then, the Thunder have rattled off 16 wins in a 19-game span. Their only loss in the last seven games happened at the hands of the Nuggets.
Overall, the Thunder are the second-best team in the Western Conference behind the Nuggets.
Defense has been the key to the Thunder’s success this season. They allow only 104 points per game, which is fourth best in the NBA.
According to the Westgate Casino’s SuperBook in Las Vegas, the Thunder are 20-1 odds to win the NBA championship. The Nuggets are 40-1 odds. The Golden State Warriors are 1-2 odds to three-peat as world champions.
