Thunder at Trail Blazers
Russell Westbrook's epic streak of triple-doubles is over and the Oklahoma City star is focused on helping the Thunder win for the eighth time in the past nine games when they visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday. Westbrook posted seven straight triple-doubles before falling four assists shy of another during Sunday's 99-96 victory over the Boston Celtics.
Only legendary Wilt Chamberlain (nine in 1968) recorded more consecutive triple-doubles than Westbrook and the Oklahoma City point guard wasn't the least bit disappointed after having 37 points, 12 rebounds and six assists against Boston. "Honestly, I'm just happy we won — that's the most important thing," Westbrook told reporters. "Me as a player, I always try to look forward. Maybe at the end of the season, I can talk about it but as of right now, my job is to move forward and get ready for Portland and try to win that game." The Trail Blazers suffered a 121-120 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday for their fourth consecutive defeat to end a five-game road trip. The slate isn't being kind to Portland as it heads right back on the road for three more games after hosting the Thunder.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, FSN Oklahoma, CSN Northwest (Portland)
ABOUT THE THUNDER (15-9): Westbrook's triple-double streak was the talk of the NBA and coach Billy Donovan gets a bit touchy when outsiders present the disappointed jibe because he fell short. "To me, sometimes we get wrapped up if he had 37 points, 20 rebounds and eight assists. Is it disappointing?" Donovan told reporters. "I get all the stuff of people wanting to talk about it but at the same point, part of the reason he didn't get a triple-double (Sunday) was we didn't shoot the ball particularly well." Oklahoma City shooting guard Victor Oladipo (wrist) is questionable after suffering the injury during a hard fall against the Celtics.
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (12-14): Portland is underachieving after being a 44-win squad last season and point guard Damian Lillard addressed the topic after Monday's loss to the Clippers. "(Being two games under .500) isn't what we want, but it's not the worst thing in the world," Lillard told reporters. "There are teams below us. Things could be worse, but we also know we've got to be better. We came into this season expecting much more of ourselves so that's disappointing." Lillard scored 24 points against the Clippers and is averaging 27.2 points over the past five games, scoring 30 or more three times.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The teams split four meetings last season — the Thunder's wins were by an average of 25 points; the Trail Blazers' victories were by an average of five points.
2. Portland SG C.J. McCollum has strung together five consecutive 20-point outings and is averaging 26 during the stretch.
3. Oklahoma City C Steven Adams is averaging 20 points (on 15-of-17 shooting) and nine rebounds over the past two games.