Rockets look to close out OKC on Tuesday. . .
Sunday evening, the OKC Thunder were back for the second game of the weekend, in their home-stand against the Houston Rockets. Down in a must-win situation, to avoid a 3-1 deficit, the team initially came out looking to even out the series. However, with Russell Westbrook getting tired for the first time all season, the triple-double machine unfortunately witnessed his team collapse.
Houston Rockets Head Coach, Mike D’Antoni had a brilliant idea, forcing Andre Roberson to shoot free throws during stretches later in the game; as they made ground in the hack-a-SHAQ method. Westbrook, who went 10-28 in shooting, had minimal bench help, as he watched Houston’s bench pour in a jaw-dropping 64 collective points (Nene Hilario led all Rockets with 28 alone).
Following the game, reporters questioned the Thunder coaching adjustments made by Billy Donovan; including taking Russell out the game, where Houston would immediately evaporate OKC’s leads. However, after witnessing his teammate Steven Adams ridiculed before his eyes, Westbrook couldn’t hold his tongue any longer. Russell went to shut down a reporter, asking why the Thunder would go into dry spouts with their superstar on the bench.
He went to say, “I don’t want nobody to try and split us up. We all one team. If I go to the bench and Steven’s on the floor, and I’m off the floor, we’re in this together. Don’t split us up. Don’t try to split us up. Don’t try and make it Russell against the rest of the guys, Russell against Houston, I don’t want to hear that. We in this together. We play as a team and that’s it.”
Peep video above, and tune into game 4 this Tuesday in Houston at 8:00pm ET on TNT.