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Westbrook's performance vs. Spurs was the first of its kind in history

por Gertrudis Escoto·Enero 12, 2019 12:28
Spurs Outlast Thunder in Double-Overtime, Win Thriller 154-147

Spurs Outlast Thunder in Double-Overtime, Win Thriller 154-147

It was the first meeting of the year between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder, and it was one to remember. Aldridge is the first Spur player with 50 points in a game since Tony Parker on November 5, 2008 vs. Minnesota (55). Their three-point onslaught continued after halftime, as they hit four more to start 14-of-14 before finally misfiring. After the Spurs essentially abandoned the 3-pointer after their hot start, White drained a 3 to put San Antonio up 129-126. First 50-point game for me. Belinelli and Davis Bertans combined to go 9-for-9 from 3-point range to lead a Spurs team that came into the contest averaging the fewest attempts per game from range, while connecting on the highest percentage. An Adams dunk off a feed from Westbrook tied it 141-141 to send it to double-overtime. Eventually Pop realized that he should just play to his player's strengths, and now the entire Spurs machine is centered on what Aldridge does best. The six-time All-Star scored seven points in double-OT to finally give the Spurs a victory that appeared over before a furious comeback attempt by the Thunder.

Which players owned the night? He's always been known as a Thunder killer and he proved it yet again tonight. San Antonio drilled its first 14 3-point attempts Thursday, the most by any team to begin a game over the past 20 seasons, according to Elias Sports Bureau research.

Aldridge finished 16 of 16 from the free-throw line, and the Spurs made their final 23 foul shots to end up 26 of 29.

Aldridge wanted the ball both during the game and after.

He totaled 24 points, a career-high 24 assists and 13 rebounds Thursday night to become the first player in National Basketball Association history to reach those numbers in a game while his assists tied the most in history during a triple-double. Regardless - 24 assists and a very reasonable night shooting the ball. Paul George posted 30 points and eight rebounds while Grant scored a career-high 25 to go with 12 rebounds.

Love for Ferg. Though he had a turnover in the second overtime that effectively ended all hopes of a miracle, Terrance Ferguson looked like an elite 3-and-D guy for one night in Texas.

Westbrook's dime bonanza was indeed spectacular, as he accounted for 55 points just off his assists - almost two-thirds of OKC's made shots while he took the floor. Ferg is now 11-of-14 from deep over the last two games. He scored a career-high 25 points, added 12 rebounds, and swatted three shots in his 44 minutes. He also grabbed eight rebounds. With full credit for the effort, contesting the rim is not one of them.

"Just really happy for him, that was a heck of a game, 56".

When that wasn't enough to put away the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio got the extra push it needed from its big man in the middle.