Trending News|March 24, 2015 03:42 EDT
Russell Westbrook NBA 2015 News: Official Review Takes Away 10th Triple-Double
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook has been on an incredible run in the past couple of months, almost single-handedly carrying the his team to the playoffs despite the slew of injuries the Thunder have had to endure this season.
The All-Star MVP will have to make do with one less triple-double to his name, though, as an official NBA review found that Westbrook only had nine rebounds to go along with 12 points and a career-high-tying 17 assists during Sunday's 93-75 win against the Miami Heat.
That brings back the MVP candidate's triple-double count to "only" nine for the season. Had the triple-double stayed, it would've been Westbrook's second straight, and eighth since the All-Star break. He has also scored 30-plus points 10 times during that span of time.
Westbrook still has 12 games to join the list of players who have recorded 10 or more triple-doubles in a single season. The list, as noted by Ball Don't Lie includes: Magic Johnson (five times), Larry Bird (twice), Fat Lever (twice), Grant Hill (twice), Jason Kidd (twice), and Michael Jordan (once).
The Thunder at 40-30 currently has a 2 ½ game advantage over ninth place Phoenix Suns. The dynamic superstar has been at the forefront of taking the Thunder on the brink of the postseason despite Kevin Durant playing in only 27 games all season, and Serge Ibaka expected to miss four to six weeks with a right knee injury.
Recently, Thunder general manager Sam Presti announced that Durant has been removed from all basketball activities and will be out indefinitely. Should the Thunder keep its current standing, they will be facing the league-leading Golden State Warriors possibly without two of their three biggest stars.
The 2008 fourth overall pick, Westbrook, has been averaging 27.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.7 assists in 55 games for the Thunder this season.