At least no one will forget Russell Westbrook’s Game 2

After three quarters of Rockets vs. Thunder Game 2, Oklahoma City led by three as Russell Westbrook racked up 36 points on 13-of-25 shooting (1-of-4 on three-point shots), 11 assists, nine rebounds, and three steals.

In the fourth quarter, Westbrook had 15 points on 4-of-18 shooting (1-of-7 on three), two assists, one rebound, and one steal. The Thunder lost the quarter by seven and the game by four.

It was the craziest hero ball exhibit we’ve ever seen ... and Kobe just retired a year ago.

Westbrook was clearly of a mind to shoot, and his shot was clearly not falling as Houston’s defense keyed in on him. Meanwhile, James Harden — Westbrook’s top rival for MVP — let Eric Gordon and Lou Williams cook just as much as he did.

It’s all very complicated, especially considering the Thunder easily won Westbrook’s 41 minutes and badly lost the seven minutes he rested. But the fault lines run deep here: everyone is going to be arguing about this game all day long (and probably beyond).

At least he gave us something to talk about.

Hawks 101, Wizards 109 (WAS leads 2-0)

Thunder 111, Rockets 115 (HOU leads 2-0)

Blazers 81, Warriors 110 (GSW leads 2-0)

I wrote about how the Thunder are doomed no matter what Westbrook does.

John Wall is the best point guard in the Eastern Conference. The Washington Wizards might right now be the best team in the Eastern Conference. The referees who worked Wizards-Hawks Game 2 might be the most overzealous referees who have ever worked a game. Wizards up 2-0. If they close it out, it looks like they will get the Bulls in Round 2 with an East finals bid on the line.

Speaking of the strange turnings of the East, I wrote that allofasudden it looks like LeBron might have an easy path to the NBA Finals again. The Wizards could definitely upend that.

The Warriors won by 29 points without Kevin Durant. No Warriors scored 20. JaVale McGee had 15 without missing a single shot. JAVALE MCGEE HAD A PODIUM GAME.

Westbrook had two MOMENTS outside of the core conversation. The first was a meme moment in which Westbrook appeared to break the fourth wall. The second was in the postgame, when Westbrook declared “I don’t give a f— about my stat line. We lost.”

Nice Eric Malinowski piece on Steve Kerr’s particular management style.

Jerry Stackhouse was the D-League Coach of the Year!

An oral history of J. Cole’s basketball career.

John Wall, asking Dennis Schroder the quintessential question we ask of the Atlanta Hawks every year. (Via r/nba.)

Howard Megdal explains why no one knows if Kelsey Plum — the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 WNBA draft and the best player in college hoops last year — will play for the team that drafted her. It’s Andrew Wiggins all over again! (Sorta.)

Both Rajon Rondo and Avery Bradley agree that the Celtics gave up in Game 2. Tim Cato writes that the Celtics are victims of their own regular-season success.