Russell Westbrook Now Averaging a Triple Double

The premier match-up to watch tonight is the same as it always is when these two teams meet: Russell Westbrook vs.

With 27 points, 18 rebounds and 14 assists against the New York Knicks in a 112-103 win Monday, Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook is now averaging a triple-double and doing so later in the season than any player has since Oscar Robertson in 1963-64. When he doubled down on his commitment to the Oklahoma City Thunder rather than look to follow KD out the door, we had a feeling we would witness something special.

“Winning is sustainable”, Westbrook said of averaging a triple-double for the season.

The multi-talented point guard recorded yet another triple-double with 17 points, 15 assists and 13 rebounds.

Playing just 12 minutes against the Hornets, Joakim Noah failed to score a point and grabbed three rebounds. “I wasn’t surprised. We knew what we were getting”, Van Gundy said. “But I definitely don’t take anything for granted”. He’s the most fierce competitor in the game today and will literally run through a wall to make sure the Thunder win.

The only other player in National Basketball Association history to average a triple for a full season was “The Big O” Oscar Robertson during the 1961-62 season.

Thunder coach Billy Donovan however paid tribute to Westbrook’s display. “It’s his will, his competitiveness and it gets our team in a position where we had a chance”.

Tobias Harris led the Pistons with 21 points.

In Minneapolis, Minnesota, George Hill had 24 points, eight rebounds and four assists, while Rudy Gobert had 16 points and 17 rebounds to lead Utah over Minnesota for their third straight win. The unheard of start continued Saturday night as Westbrook notched his 44th career triple double in a blow 106-88 victory of the Detroit Pistons. He was held to nine points by the Heat on Friday, and hasn’t posted consecutive single-digit scoring games yet this season. The Pistons shot just 1 for 19 on 3-point attempts. Marcus Morris scored 10 points in the first quarter, then was shut out, shooting 0 for 7 the rest of the night. The Thunder shot 51 percent and made eight triples. The Thunder lead the Utah Jazz (9-8) by half a game in the Northwest Division standings.

Westbrook passed Fat Lever in all-time triple doubles to move into sixth place all-time. The Pistons have lost three in a row in Charlotte.

Head to head, the Nuggets are 1-4 ATS in the last five meetings in Phoenix and the Home team is 25-11-1 ATS in the last 37 meetings overall.