Westbrook aims for triple-double record as Thunder face Suns (Apr 07, 2017)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook will take a second crack at NBA history Friday night when he seeks a record-breaking 42nd triple-double against a team that has offered him little resistance this season, the Phoenix Suns.
Four days after their city hosted the NCAA Tournament championship game, basketball fans in Phoenix could get an opportunity to witness Westbrook break the record set by Oscar Robertson in 1961-62.
Riding a seven-game streak of triple-doubles, Westbrook came within one rebound of breaking the record Wednesday night in Memphis in a 103-100 win to which he contributed 45 points and 10 assists.
The UCLA product missed a triple-double by one assist the last time he faced the Suns. He had 48 points and 17 rebounds in the game -- a 118-111 loss at Phoenix.
Westbrook did more than just record triple-doubles when the Thunder swept a pair of home games from the Suns earlier this season.
He had 51 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in a 113-110 overtime win on Oct. 28, becoming the first player since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to record a triple-double that included a 50-point game.
Westbrook duplicated the feat, except with 57 points, at Orlando last week.
His second triple-double against the Suns this season -- in a 114-101 win in December -- featured a career-high 22 assists.
Westbrook will take the court Friday night averaging 31.8 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists. With just four games remaining, he is virtually assured of becoming the first player since Robertson, also in 1961-62, to average a triple-double.
There is more at stake for the Thunder (45-33) against the Suns than just individual glory. They need one more win to assure themselves of no lower than the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference playoffs, which would assure they wouldn't have to face the San Antonio Spurs in the first round.
Actually, the Thunder have a much better chance of moving up than down in the Western standings. They still could get as high as No. 4 -- which would mean home-court advantage in the first round -- as they battle the Utah Jazz (48-30) and the Los Angeles Clippers (48-31) for the fourth, fifth and sixth positions.
Westbrook acknowledged, all things considered, the Memphis game was a complete success.
"I think it is important," he said after the game of the significance of winning a tight game against a quality team at this late stage of the season. "Especially for guys getting ready for the playoffs. We need to make sure we're playing the type of basketball we need moving forward."
The Suns prevailed in Oklahoma City's last visit to Phoenix, which was more than a month ago, but they have won just twice since. They will be shackled by a franchise-record 13-game losing streak when they face the Thunder.
More than one point guard in the matchup has experienced success of late. Suns rookie Tyler Ulis put up 14 points and seven assists in his head-to-head with Westbrook in the March win.
Ulis went on to record a season-best 34 points Sunday against Houston as part of a six-game run of double-figure scoring during which he has averaged 18.7 points. He currently ranks first among rookies in assists (7.2) and seventh in scoring (12.4) since the All-Star break.
Veteran Jared Dudley understands the balance the Suns are trying to achieve between winning a game now and developing a winning team for the future.
"Right now, we're just trying to give so much experience to these guys," Dudley said of the Suns, who have played four rookies the past two games. "Sometimes it can be good, and sometimes it can be bad."
