Russell Westbrook is one of the league’s most polarizing players. What can’t be denied, though, is he tries his best every time he’s on the floor.
In today’s 154-141 win against the Indiana Pacers, Westbrook put on another unreal display of basketball with 14 points, 21 rebounds, and 24 assists. This feat made him the only player to record over 20 rebounds and assists in a game twice. Wilt Chamberlain achieved the feat once.
Even more astonishing, though, is how he’s now averaged a regular season triple-double for the fourth time with seven games left to go. That’s right, Westbrook can play in all seven games and average zero points, rebounds, and assists and he’d still finish with a triple-double.
Westbrook’s exploits have brought the Wizards in striking range of the play-in tournament as well. While they once looked doomed to be at the bottom of the standings this season, their record since a pair of losses to the Knicks toward the end of March has been 15-7.
Westbrook and his All-Star teammate Bradley Beal have found a way to co-exist and play winning basketball together, which is going to be a worrying sight for the East’s other play-in teams.
If the Wizards were to win four out of their last seven games they’re in a good spot. It’s not the easiest of schedules, but some of the games are definitely winnable:
- Bucks
- Raptors
- Pacers
- Hawks (twice)
- Cleveland
- Charlotte
They would have to hope that the Raptors don’t go 7-0 in that stretch, too, but Toronto’s schedule isn’t easy:
- Clippers (twice)
- Wizards
- Memphis
- Bulls
- Mavericks
- Pacers
The coming matchup between the Raptors and Wizards this week could be the play-in decider. It’s going to be a fun game to watch.
