NBA scores 2017: Russell Westbrook can’t force history

Westbrook has to focus on winning like he’s done all season. He can’t chase Oscar Robertson.

Apr 8, 2017, 12:00 PM UTC

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

It was meant to be. Literally, the story was pre-written.

Russell Westbrook was going to move into NBA lore by picking up triple double No. 42 against a lowly Phoenix Suns team Friday night. He was set to move past Oscar Robertson’s 1961-62 mark of 41 for the most triple doubles in NBA history, all but cementing his status as the favorite for the league Most Valuable Player award along the way.

But that didn’t happen. Instead, Westbrook finished the first half just two-of-13 from the floor for six points, seven rebounds and three assists. He got the points and the rebounds in the third quarter, but found himself two assists shy with just 2:34 remaining in the fourth quarter.

That’s when the Suns intentionally fouled Westbrook to prevent him from getting anymore assists. The Thunder guard then intentionally fouled to check himself out of the game.

It didn’t feel right from the start. For the first time, it felt like Westbrook was chasing a triple double instead of playing to win. The Thunder were down 28 to a Suns team that isn’t actually trying to win games. That’s because Westbrook got so lost in trying to break history, he forgot how to actually play the game.

Westbrook became predictable: He’d dart past a wimpy defender and get to the paint before realizing he needed to pass the ball to get an assist. The Suns realized this and played off of him. It can’t work like that. Not if he wants to break history.

Like he’s done throughout the season, Westbrook is going to need to pick up a triple double before the fourth quarter if he wants that coveted No. 42. Teams saw what the Suns did in the final period. Nobody’s going to want to be in the history books for the wrong reasons.

But if it’s done in the flow of the game, as it has been for much of the season, Westbrook could join Robertson soon. He’s already in the history books: Westbrook’s sixth assist on Friday cemented his season average of 10 on the season. He will officially average a triple double this season and joins Robertson and Nate “Tiny” Archibald as the only players to average 30 points and 10 assists.

The Thunder have three more games. They play in Denver on Sunday then in Minnesota on Tuesday. The season finale is against the Nuggets at home, and it would be fitting to break history in front of a raucous Chesapeake Energy Arena crowd. But the season finale is also the second game of a back-to-back. He’ll have to leave it all on the floor if he wants the historic mark.

We don’t know if Westbrook will record triple double he yearns for. But one thing is certain: He can’t hunt the stats. He’s got to hunt the win.

Standings update

West

1) Golden State Warriors vs. 8) Portland Trail Blazers
2) San Antonio Spurs vs. 7) Memphis Grizzlies
3) Houston Rockets vs. 6) Oklahoma City Thunder
4) Utah Jazz vs. 5) Los Angeles Clippers

Important Race: No. 8 Portland (39-40) and No. 9 Denver (38-41)

What happened: The Grizzlies beat the Knicks to lock-up a 2-7 matchup against the Spurs. The Nuggets beat the Pelicans to move just a game behind the Trail Blazers.

East

1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 8) Indiana Pacers
2) Boston Celtics vs. 7) Chicago Bulls
3) Toronto Raptors vs. 6) Milwaukee Bucks
4) Washington Wizards vs. 5) Atlanta Hawks

Important Race: No. 6 Milwaukee (40-39), No. 7 Chicago (39-40), No. 8 Indiana (39-40), No. 9 (38-41)

What happened: The Heat lost to the Raptors to fall a game behind the Pacers. The best Miami can finish is .500.