By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
After scoring 20 points in the third quarter, Westbrook made just 2 of 11 fourth-quarter shots in a disappointing end to a stellar season where he became the first player since Oscar Robertson in 1961-62 to average a triple-double by scoring an NBA-best 31.6 points a game, with 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists. He also set an NBA record for most triple-doubles with 42 to help the Thunder withstand the loss of All-Star Kevin Durant in free agency.
He had 11 rebounds and nine assists to come just shy of his fourth straight triple-double in this series, but he made just 5 of a career-high 18 3-point attempts. Swiss Clint Capela added 8 points and 9 rebounds for the winners, while Spaniard Alex Abrines had 11 points for Oklahoma City Thunder.
Manu Ginobili hit the court, literally, providing an early spark that helped carry San Antonio to a 116-103 victory over Memphis. Kawhi Leonard had 28 points and the Spurs rebounded from two discouraging road losses to beat the Grizzlies and take a 3-2 lead in their first-round series. Ginobili had 10 points, 3 assists and 3 steals in 18 minutes. French Tony Parker added 16 points and 6 assists, while Spaniard Pau Gasol had 9 points and Latvian Davis Bertans scored 3 points. Pau’s bother Marc Gasol added 17 points and 7 assists for Memphis, which has lost nine straight postseason games in San Antonio.
Last but not least, Gordon Hayward scored 27 points, Utah controlled the paint and the Jazz beat the Los Angeles Clippers 96-92 on the road to take a 3-2 lead in their first-round playoff series. French big man Rudy Gobert finished the game with a double double (11 p. 11 r. 5 st.) and his compatriot Boris Diaw added 10 points.