J-Speaks: Hot NBA All-Star Guards on Monday Night

Since the start of the season, Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star lead guard Russell Westbrook has been playing at a level that seems unreal. He has been putting up video games numbers like it is not a big deal. He added to that resume this past Monday night, but his performance was outdone by a career night from a “Splash Brother.”

Westbrook in the Thunder’s (14-8) 102-99 win at the Atlanta Hawks (10-12) on Monday night garnered his sixth consecutive triple-double with 32 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists helping the team to their sixth win in a row and sending the Hawks to their seventh consecutive defeat and 10^th loss in their last 11 games.

"I'm just blessed and happy to be able to play the game that I love," Westbrook said to an ESPN reporter after the game about his streak of triple-doubles. "I have amazing teammates that help me out a lot."

On the opposite coast, Golden State Warriors (18-3) All-Star guard and one-half of the “Splash Brothers” Klay Thompson exploded for an NBA-high for this season and a career-high 60 points going 21 for 33 from the field, including 8 for 14 from three-point range and 10 for 11 from the free throw line in just 29 minutes as the defending Western Conference Champions defeated the Indiana Pacers (10-11) 142-106. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Thompson scored 60 points in the fewest minutes in the shot clock era (since 1954-55). He now leads future Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant (2005-06) and now Hall of Famers Karl Malone (1989-90) and George Gervin (1977-78) who accomplished their 60-plus point performances in 33 minutes. 

Westbrook’s triple-double was his 11^th on the season and 48^th of his career, which is fifth all-time in NBA history, gave him the most in succession since Hall of Famers Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson streak of double-figures in points, rebounds and assists in seven straight games back in 1961 and 1989 respectably. Westbrook’s streak tied him with the late great Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlin, who had a five-game streak back in 1968 and Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson did it five straight times in 1961 and 1962. 

The longest streak of triple-doubles is held by Chamberlin, who did for nine straight games back also back in 1968.

“I know there’ so much talk about Russell and what he’s doing because what he’s doing is really incredible and remarkable,” Thunder head coach Billy Donovan, who has now a 61-35 record said after the game. “It’s obviously the league has not seen something like this in a long, long time. But I also give Russell a lot of credit and our guys. We’re a team. These guys are all together trying to fulfill their role. There all trying to do their jobs. There all trying to play together. There all trying to make each other better. To help each other.”

Thompson had 40 of those points in the opening half in just 18-plus minutes on 15 for 22 shooting hitting five triples helping the Warriors to an 80-50 lead at intermission.

Thompson, who had 17 points (of the Warriors’ 38 points) in the opening stanza; 23 (of the Warriors’ 42 points) in the second quarter and 20 (of the Warriors’ 36 points) in the third joined Chamberlin and Hall of Famers Rick Barry and Joe Fulks as the only players in Warriors history to score 60 in a game. Barry was the last to score that jaw-dropping amount when he scored 64 points on Mar. 26, 1974 against the Portland Trail Blazers.

“It felt great obviously,” Thompson, who received an ice shower from his backcourt mate Stephen Curry during his interview with Comcast SportsNet Bay Area’s Rose Gold-Onwude after the win. “It was fun. I was in a great rhythm. Took all good shots most part. Still missed a few wide-open threes I wish I could have back, but it was a fun night to say the least.”

Just around this time two years ago, Thompson had a 37-point third quarter on his way to a then career-high 52 points versus the Sacramento Kings in a 126-101 win back on Jan. 23, 2015.

The previous high scorer in a game this season was ironically enough was Westbrook who had 51 points to go along with 13 rebounds and 10 assists in an 113-110 overtime win by the Thunder versus the Phoenix Suns (6-15) back on Oct. 28.

Thompson said to Gold-Onwude that continuing his hot shooting streak into the second half occurred because he and his teammates treated each possession like Gold, no pun intended.

“We’re trying to build great habits,” he said. “Our assists to turnover ratio tonight was phenomenal. We got to keep that up. I’m proud of the way we played.”

The Warriors bringing Thompson’s point into perspective had 45 assists on their 54 made field goals, with 11 of those assists coming from Curry, who also had 13 points. They had 25 assists in the opening half with just two turnovers.

They were 14 for 37 from three-point range; had 30 fast break points; committed just 11 turnovers and forced 14 turnovers that resulted in 22 points; out-rebounded the Pacers 63-45, including 16-9 on the offensive glass and outscored them in the paint 62-44.

Kevin Durant had a solid night as well with 20 points, eight boards, four assists and two block shots. Draymond Green, while he had just two points had five boards, 10 assists and four of the Warriors 11 steals.

To illustrate how unreal Thompson’s amazing night of scoring was, he had 60 points in 29:03 on Monday night, an NBA record. His teammate Curry had 46 points in 29:46 back on Apr. 13, 2016 in the Warriors 125-104 win versus the Memphis Grizzlies, the season-finale, which was the team’s NBA record breaking 73^rd victory. Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith had 45 points in 29:31 back on Apr. 13, 2009 for the Denver Nuggets in a 118-98 win versus the Sacramento Kings. Smith was 13 for 22 on the night, including going 11 for 18 from three-point range. Hall of Famer of the Boston Celtics Larry Bird scored 43 points in 29 minutes as the C’s won versus the Cleveland Cavaliers 126-96.

What made this night even more phenomenal is the reaction to each shot that Thompson connected on. Oracle Arena was rocking. The crowd was on its feet throughout the game. The Warriors bench was up cheering just as loud as the fans. Curry on a couple of occasions on the bench was doing wind sprints showing his joy and appreciation for his teammate’s hot hand.

To add a fundamental point to Thompson’s evening, which was illustrated by longtime color analyst for the Warriors in Jim Barnett, the first 18 of the first 24 points by Thompson came from inside three-point range  as he shot just three times from long distance to that point. It was all from the result of ball movement; solid screens from the likes of backup center JaVale McGee and Green. That is how you get 33 quality shots on 46 touches; how 20 of Thompson 21 field goal makes were assisted and how you only take just 11 dribbles in the contest.

Getting back to Westbrook and the Thunder, coming into this season, the question was could Westbrook be able to make things happen offensively in terms of scoring while being able to get the rest of his teammates involved?

That question he has answered with an emphatic yes and Westbrook has had to do so with the departure of Durant to the Warriors back in the summer. He has been very special in his ability to score and making his teammates better, especially during this winning streak in garnering these triple-doubles.

In their win at the Hawks on Monday night, Anthony Morrow had 15 points off the bench, connecting on 4 for 6 from three-point territory. Oladipo, who has averaged 17.8 points per game in the last 10 games had 14 points along with six rebounds. Starting center Steven Adams had his fifth double-double on the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds and Enes Kanter added 10 points off the bench.

What took place on Monday night was two of the best in the NBA performing at a level that is something you have needed to see to believe. Westbrook and Thompson put on display what hours and hours of work behind the scenes; an attention to detail and a willingness to bring a level of play to the court that made their team and teammates better and rose their level of play.

Westbrooks ability to create and draw attention from the opposing team has given him the chance to get his teammates open shots they have made and has developed a trust that when they are presented with the opportunity that they will capitalize on it.

In the case of Thompson’s historic night, getting the open and good shots he did came off the fact that he has teammates that are willing to set great picks and his ability to constantly be in motion to get open and when he does the result is bucket after bucket after bucket.

They both had great nights and are big reasons why their teams have had the greatest chance of winning on a nightly basis not just this season, but for the past few.

Information, statistics and quotations are courtesy of 12/5/16 and 12/6/16 7 p.m. addition of NBATV’s “The Starters,” with Tas Melas, J.E. Skeets, Leigh Ellis and Trey Kerby; 12/6/16 2 a.m. edition of NBATV’s “Gametime,” presented by Kia Motors with Vince Cellini, Sekou Smith and Brent Barry; 12/6/16 3:30 p.m. addition of ESPN's NBA: The Jump with Rachel Nichols, Amin Elhassan and Stephen Jackson; www.nba.com/games/20161205/INDGSW#/recap; www.espn.go.com/statsistics/player/_/stat/double-doubles; www.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameid=400899756; www.espn.go.com/boxscore?gameid=400899749; www.espn.co.uk/nba/boxscore?gameid=290413007 and www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/20151230GSW.html.