The Orlando Magic looked good for 42 minutes, but Russell Westbrook showed why he is an MVP frontrunner at the end and lead the Thunder to a comeback.
As Russell Westbrook came over the mid-court line there was a moment of indecision for the Orlando Magic. Up three with time winding down and momentum heavily against them, the smart move was to foul. But coach Frank Vogel did not want his team to risk it. Westbrook could rise up too fast and make it a three-shot foul and send the game to overtime anyway.
Up three with time winding down and momentum heavily against them, the smart move was to foul. But coach Frank Vogel did not want his team to risk it. Westbrook could rise up too fast and make it a three-shot foul and send the game to overtime anyway.
None of that calculus matters. Not with Russell Westbrook on the other team. With a quick rise and a gasp from the crowd, he drained a 30-foot 3-pointer to force overtime, completing a 21-point comeback in the second half.
Everything else felt academic. The Oklahoma City Thunder pulled ahead in overtime — Westbrook putting the finishing touches on a 57-point, 13-rebound, 11-assist historic triple-double in an 114-106 overtime win over the Magic at Amway Center.
This game showed how badly the Magic need a franchise talent. Someoen who can take the reigns and win it in the end.
that is what the Thunder had and it willed them to a victory — and a Playoff berth.
In what started off as an ugly game for both teams, the Magic looked really good on both ends of the court. The ball was moving, the defense was engaged, and the Magic opened up a big lead.
The score was 93-79 with 6:18 left in the game before David Steele correctly predicted that it was Russell Westbrook time.
From that point, Westbrook scored 19 points in the rest of the quarter, including the 3-pointer to tie it, and then added seven more in overtime to help the Thunder take control of the game.
The Magic did not have the reliable, superstar scorer to counter Westbrook and his incredible 57-point triple double, the most points ever scored in a triple-double game.
Thus they blew the game at the end. A bunch of missed free throws certainly did not help, as well as a suddenly stagnant offense that relied on isolations rather than the strong ball movement they had earlier in the game.
Orlando gave it away as much as Westbrook took it.