Russell Westbrook arrives at Barclays averaging a triple-double

As you might expect, there was a sense of occasion during Westbrook’s player introduction and each time he had the ball in his hands.

Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Russell Westbrook not only recorded his 33rd triple-double of the season in the team’s win over the Brooklyn nets, he also got a warm welcome from Nets fans, who serenaded him with “MVP” chants throughout the course of the game.

“We were able to get some consecutive stops and get out in transition and we got going and were able to increase the lead and close out the third”, he said.

“I’m definitely a fan”, DeRozan said Wednesday as the Raptors prepared to play the Thunder on Thursday at the Air Canada Centre. The Thunder came to Brooklyn on a seven-game road winless streak, a fact Westbrook reminded his team about Tuesday morning. “They are impactful in the game”. “To play with that kind of aggressiveness, force, physicality from the point guard position, you don’t see that every night”. The teams were tied at 32 after one quarter and 62 at halftime, but the Thunder limited the Nets to 5-of-17 shooting in the third quarter to open a 91-83 lead. When OKC’s perimeter game flows, naturally, avenues to the rim become available for either Westbrook drives or assists.

It was LeBron James who starred with 33 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Westbrook had a driving dunk with 37 seconds to restore the double-digit advantage.

Utah coach Quin Snyder used his entire available roster. Wing stopper Andre Roberson mostly stuck with All-Star DeMar DeRozan, though DeRozan still sank his usual mid-rangers. That team came out and played like it was a championship game and we played like it was a middle of the season game. The trio combined for 65 points on 21-of-36 shooting.

“The thing that always strikes you when you’re watching him is how competitive he is and the physical force that he plays with”, said Atkinson, a former point guard who played collegiately at Richmond and professionally overseas.

The Thunder shot 50 percent from the field (43 for 86).

Russell Westbrook finished the month of February averaging 31.2 PPG, 9.1 RPG and 10.3 APG in 12 games. He went for 23 points against the Raptors, his fourth straight 20-point performance. But the Jazz missed their final three 3-point attempts.

DeMarre Carroll was back following his two-game injury absence (ankle), back in the starting lineup at small forward, but nowhere near back to his dogged self. The combination of games being played on neutral courts and the sudden pressure of the one-game season scenario creates an environment for interesting things to happen.

– Thunder F Taj Gibson, who is from Fort Greene, has impressed Donovan since he arrived from Chicago in a trade last month.

The Thunder ended a seven-game road losing streak with their victory over the Nets.