After missing more than two weeks with a right quad strain, All-Star guard Russell Westbrook was understandably rusty in his return to the Houston Rockets during Saturday’s Game 5 versus Oklahoma City.
Though his team won by the largest playoff margin in franchise history, 114-80 (box score), Westbrook missed 10 of 13 shots. In 24 minutes, he scored just seven points — more than 20 below his season average.
Even so, the Rockets were +21 in Westbrook’s minutes, and he had seven assists, six rebounds, and zero turnovers.
“Just winning,” Westbrook said of his Game 5 focus. “Trying to win. The series was tied 2-2, a three-game series. It would be good to go out and get a win, and that’s what we did. And making a statement while doing it. I thought everybody played the right way.”
When asked postgame, co-star James Harden and head coach Mike D’Antoni were effusive in praising Westbrook’s energy and leadership.
When asked about Westbrook’s performance, Harden said:
Extraordinary. We know what he brings to table. He brought that energy. He brought that excitement that we were missing. And we just need him. Obviously, he’s our leader. And we all know what he does for the game of basketball and for our team, so it was exciting to have him out there.
“You get Russell back, that gives you a shot of adrenaline,” D’Antoni said. “He just gives us some energy. He speeds up the game. He’s going to get better the more times he goes out and plays. I knew he was going to be a little rusty. He gave us a nice little spurt to start the game. I thought it was good. We kept his minutes [24] at a good level.”
D’Antoni continued his comments:
I think just the rhythm that he gives us, the speed. James doesn’t have to make every play. Russell was really hitting guys early, getting them good shots. We didn’t make a lot of them, but we were getting good shots, and he was creating really well. A guy of that stature, he’s going to be important. We’ve missed him the first four games. Now we’ve got him, and we’ll see what we can do.
Westbrook and the Rockets have an opportunity in Monday’s Game 6 to clinch the series and advance to the second round. Historically, in NBA playoff series to be tied after four games, the winner of Game 5 has ultimately won the best-of-seven series more than 80% of the time.
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