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Russell Westbrook recorded the 181st triple-double of his career, tying Oscar Robertson’s all-time NBA record, and hit the game-winning free throws with one second remaining in overtime to lead the Washington Wizards to a 133-132 win over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday in Indianapolis.
Washington (32-36) overcame a 12-point, fourth-quarter deficit behind Westbrook’s history-matching night and 50 points from Bradley Beal on Saturday, May 8 (Sunday, May 9, Manila time).
Westbrook finished with 33 points, including Washington’s final two points in regulation on a finger-roll in traffic, and game-highs of 19 rebounds and 15 assists.
The 32-year-old Westbrook has a chance to grab sole possession of the record when the Wizards visit the Atlanta Hawks on Monday.
In his first season with Washington, Westbrook has 35 triple-doubles in 61 games. He also holds the single-season record with 42 triple-doubles during the 2016-2017 campaign with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Robertson has owned the record since the 1961-1962 season. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980.
Westbrook’s effort, coupled with Beal’s 19-of-31 shooting from the floor, was just enough to outduel strong showings from Domantas Sabonis and Caris LeVert.
Sabonis recorded a triple-double for Indiana (31-36) with 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists. LeVert scored 35 points for his third game of 30-plus points in the past four, and he was clutch in the second half.
LeVert scored 16 points in the third quarter, including a one-legged, sideways-running three-pointer in the period’s final seconds.
As Washington whittled down the fourth-quarter gap, LeVert answered both times the Wizards took the lead: first hitting a three-pointer with 1:15 to play, then making a driving layup with 13.4 seconds left that ultimately forced overtime.
LeVert scored on a lay-in with 2:34 to go in OT, giving Indiana a four-point lead. Washington’s Davis Bertans sank a three-pointer on the next possession, and a Westbrook basket pushed the Wizards ahead.
Edmond Sumner responded with a mid-range jumper to give Indiana a 132-131 lead with 1:03 to go.
Justin Holiday blocked Westbrook’s first attempt to recapture the lead in the final seconds of overtime. After a Wizards timeout, Westbrook drew a foul on his jump shot attempt, and he sank the game-winning foul shots.
The victory lifted Washington ninth place in the Eastern Conference, a half-game ahead of Indiana as they jockey for position in the play-in tournament. – Rappler.com
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