Suns outlast Thunder in overtime thriller despite Westbrook triple-double
The Phoenix Suns halted the NBA's hottest team in its tracks to inch closer to the final playoff spot in the loaded Western Conference.
Eric Bledsoe and Markieff Morris helped the Suns overcome a monster game from All-Star Russell Westbrook to down the Oklahoma City Thunder 117-113 in an overtime thriller Thursday at US Airways Center.
Westbrook, who has blossomed into the MVP discussion, shook off a rough shooting night to record his NBA-best fourth triple-double of the season. The 39-point, 14-rebound, 11-assist effort marks his second consecutive triple-double and third of the month. He was a one-man show at times and helped the Thunder conquer an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime.
Russell Westbrook was 12-38 tonight (31.6%). That's the lowest FG pct of any player with a 30-point triple-double in the last 25 years.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 27, 2015
But Westbrook's big line wasn't enough to power the Thunder past the up-and-down Suns, who have won two straight after dropping five in a row.
Phoenix got revenge against an Oklahoma City team that has come on strong to take over the No. 8 seed in the West, and one that beat it in overtime in December. The Suns snapped the Thunder's seven-game winning streak and sit 1.5 games back of eighth place.
Bledsoe did everything to will the Suns to victory, going toe-to-toe with Westbrook, scoring 28 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists, while coming through with a game-changing defensive play in overtime. The Suns guard had a massive chase down block on Dion Waiters to prevent the Thunder wing from tying the contest.
He then went on to convert a difficult layup, the eventual game-winning shot, to give the Suns a four-point lead.
Westbrook made it a two-point game with 35 seconds remaining and got the ball again with 10 seconds left after Serge Ibaka blocked Bledsoe in the paint. But Westbrook tweaked his ankle on the way to the basket and missed a good, clean look, effectively ending the contest.
Thunder's Russell Westbrook rolls left ankle pic.twitter.com/gP7UUd73Rk
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) February 27, 2015
Asked after the game if he was good for Friday's encounter with the Trail Blazers in Portland, Westbrook replied, "Hell yeah I'm good."
The intense overtime was a continuation from the fourth.
Morris, who had 29 points and 11 rebounds, nailed a jumper with 20 seconds remaining in the quarter and was fouled on the play, converting a shot at the line to make it a three-point game. But the contest was far from over with Oklahoma City in possession of the ball.
Westbrook - who shot 0-of-8 from the field in the opening quarter - got the rock, couldn't find the 3-point shot he was looking for, so instead attacked the basket and converted a tough layup while drawing plenty of contact. He subsequently nailed the ensuing shot at the line to tie the game at 109.
Morris was then swatted by Ibaka at the buzzer to complete a poor final possession for the Suns and force overtime.
Westbrook, who has been on an absolute tear, entered the game averaging a ridiculous 29.5 points, 10.1 assists and 8.2 rebounds in 10 February contests. He's on pace to become the second player in NBA history to average 30-10-8 in a single month, joining Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson, according to ESPN Stats and Info.
The Thunder are 2-1 against the Suns with one more contest remaining in March, which could be potentially crucial for tie-breaking purposes.