NBA scores 2015: Russell Westbrook was amazing again, but Bulls edge Thunder on unlikely late-game heroics

Westbrook’s triple-double streak ends at four and his play on Thursday wasn’t quite as otherworldly as we’ve come to expect -- and he still scored 43.

by Tim Cato

Mar 6, 2015, 12:55 PM UTC

Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

It was, alternately through the night, the Serge Ibaka Game, the Nikola Mirotic Game and the Russell Westbrook Game, before finally finishing as the E’Twaun Moore Game. Three hours of NBA basketball doesn’t often go through such diverse swings as this one did, but rarely do two teams hold a summit meeting to play basketball at its very peak for a 48 minute stretch. It’s a shame one of the Thunder and Bulls had to lose.

Westbrook was the one who had captured the rapt attention of the NBA world with a February that was damn near divine in its perfection. Coming into Thursday’s game, he had four straight triple-doubles, a feat not accomplished since Michael Jordan in 1989. Despite 17 first half points, though, Westbrook failed to reach the incredible levels we had become accustom, leaving Serge Ibaka to buoy the team with 15 points of his own.

But it seemed to only be a matter of time. Westbrook erupted with 26 second half points, making dazzling plays and impossible jump shots. He failed to get his triple double for the game, only -- only -- finishing with 43 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Only when you realize that stat line was a disappointment from his past four games do you realize how incredible Westbrook had been played.

An unlikely counter from the Bulls emerged in Nikola Mirotic, a rookie forward who arrived in Chicago desperately needed. He’s produced in a small role all season but has been particularly excellent since the All-Star break. On Thursday, he scored 18 points in the second half by living at the line. He’s a 6’10 shooter who can dribble and move towards the rim like a guard. After he earns a smidge of space with a pump fake, it’s hard not to foul him as he barrels towards the rim. That was his plan all game, and it kept working.

Mirotic helped turn a double-digit Thunder lead in the fourth quarter into an actual game. Somehow, the Bulls pulled within three points. Westbrook, in a rare moment of mortality, attempted a dagger but shot an airball jumper. On the resulting play, Pau Gasol made the most gorgeous pass of the night to set the stage for E’Twaun Moore.

Westbrook was doubled aggressively on the ensuing possession and stepped out of bounds, but there wasn’t enough time to expect any different result. That’s OK. This nationally televised game was one of the best showings basketball could offer.

3 other things we learned

As if in penance, the second game of the double header was not entertaining. The Trail Blazers are generally a very exciting team, and the Mavericks can be sometimes. Neither team was anything close on Thursday, struggling to perform the simplest tasks on offense and leaving way too many points (and way too much potential excitement) on the board. On their home floor, Portland finally figured it out enough to earn a 94-75 win, but not without a grave cost: Wes Matthews will miss the rest of the season with a torn Achilles.

More fuel to the Rondo fire. The Dallas starting back court was miserable, with Monta Ellis shooting 5-20 for 12 points himself. But the man of interest has been and still is Rajon Rondo, who has been the subject of many more questions than answers since he was traded from the Celtics to the Mavericks in December. Everyone knew he wasn’t a perfect fit when it happened, but the hopes of him improving his offense while anchoring a championship-level defense haven’t quite materialized. Dallas is defending much better, this is true, but the Rondo effect has hurt the offense even more, providing a nasty net negative that no one knows what to do with. On Thursday, Rondo could only muster 10 points on 5-13 shooting. He actually neared triple-double territory with nine assists and seven rebounds, but his four turnovers paint a better picture of what was, at best, a bland night on the offensive end from him.

The Mavericks are down to 19 games in the season, and one of them is the second night of this back-to-back against Golden State on Friday. That’s a loss waiting to happen. They can figure this team out, but they’re quickly running out of time to do so.

Welcome back, Craig Sager. What a fantastic sight to see the sartorial-inclined reporter back on the sidelines reporting and interviewing just like he’s done all his career. After beating cancer, TNT provided a moving video from people around the NBA recognizing him for his strength and his return, while Sager received a standing ovation from the crowd before the game. This was a great moment for the NBA, its fans and Sager himself. We’re glad you’re back, Craig.

Play of the Night

Let’s go back to E’Twaun Moore, a no-name hero who emerged off the Bulls bench for this shot in the absence of Jimmy Butler and Derrick Rose. After the game, Moore said it was a designed post-up to Pau Gasol, and so the reaction and play he made to fling it out to the corner is marvelous. Moore was already having the game of his career, and this shot just sealed the deal. He finished with 19 points on 9-10 shooting.