Melo accepts smaller role in win vs. Nuggets: 'I'm good with it, if we win'
Russell Westbrook decided the offense should run through him in the Oklahoma City Thunder's nail-biting 95-94 victory over the Denver Nuggets.
Westbrook took a game-high 28 shots, which meant his other two co-stars had to sacrifice. Paul George only attempted 13, while Carmelo Anthony took just six shots.
Anthony said he was fine with yielding for Westbrook, especially on a night when the reigning MVP scored 38 points.
"I'm good with it, if we win," Anthony told Fred Katz of the Norman Transcript. "I'm cool with that, man. He had it going. Anytime he has it going, you gotta space it out, play off him and let him work.
"The ball will find us. As far as shots go, there's going to be nights like that, it's something we have to accept. It's different, but we have to accept that."
Anthony has shot poorly throughout the season, and was only 2-of-6 for four points on Monday, but it was still a significant change from the 16.3 field-goal attempts he averages on a nightly basis. His six attempts were a six-year low.
"It's definitely an adjustment," Anthony added.
George, who finished with eight points on 3-of-13 shooting, echoed the same sentiments.
"Russ definitely had the hot hand. We were fine with him taking over ... he was getting great looks," he said. "You can't really be mad about the looks he got."
HEADLINES
- Richardson 'low-key glad' to be benched for past 2 games
- Ted Williams' 1946 AL MVP among memorabilia up for auction
- Rodgers maintains desire to play next year, endorses Ulbrich as Jets coach
- Steelers' Queen: 'I wasn't wanted back' with Ravens
- Stefanski: Wills used 'poor choice of words' saying it was 'business decision' not to play