With two decisive actions, guard Russell Westbrook sealed the Washington Wizards 133-132 victory in overtime on Saturday over the Indiana Pacers in the game in which he equaled the record for triple doubles of the legendary Oscar Robertson.
Westbrook added 33 points, 19 rebounds and 15 assists, thus reaching the 181st triple-double of his NBA career, with which he tied the mark achieved by Oscar Robertson between 1960 and 1974.
The point guard crowned his feat by scoring 6 of the Wizards’ 9 points in overtime, including the final two free throws, and putting a spectacular block on Caris LeVert when he threw a final 3-pointer almost over the horn for the Pacers.
“It’s amazing, I feel really blessed and grateful,” Westbrook said. “I am very proud to go out and leave everything I have on the track and this was one of those nights.”
“I’ve had incredible teammates and organizations over the years and I’m very grateful,” said the point guard, who will get his first chance to beat Robertson’s record on Monday against the Hawks in Atlanta.
Westbrook hit Saturday’s triple-double with 1 minute, 39 seconds remaining in the third quarter with an assist to Bradley Beal, who had another mammoth performance with 50 points.
The guard, who has a contest with Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors) for the title of top scorer of the season, could not play overtime due to physical problems.
With this victory, the Wizards surpass the Pacers and are placed in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, which gives access to the ‘play in’ (playoff repechage).
For the Pacers, Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis had another triple-double with 30 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists and Caris LeVert added 35 points and 14 rebounds.
In another game of the day, the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Detroit Pistons 118-104 and consolidated their lead in the East with their eighth consecutive win. (AFP) (GG)