By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Russell Westbrook became the first Los Angeles Lakers player to score 30 points in one half since the late Kobe Bryant. Kobe had 38 points in the second half out of an overall number of 60 in his last game ever on April 13, 2016.
Westbrook dropped 30 out of his season-high 35 points in the second half of the Lakers‘ 117 – 114 loss to the Charlotte Hornets Friday (28/1). He pulled off some heroics after the break to help his team erase a 20-point deficit and made consecutive 3-point buckets down the stretch but misfired in a game-winning attempt with the Lakers down by two.
There were 9.2 seconds left on the game clock in that play and Westbrook opted to go for the win and not for the overtime. While he could’ve attacked the basket and at least win the foul, it’s easy to understand why he trusted in his hot hand from range at that moment.
The Lakers played without injured mega-stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis so it was up to Westbrook to step up. The former MVP did so with buckets, assists (5), solid shooting (12-23 from the field) and just one turnover.
“When the team needs me to do it, I’m able to still do it. That’s the most important part,” Westbrook said. “The unfortunate part is we didn’t win the game. But, with my teammates, those guys give me the confidence to be aggressive and make the right reads. So it was good to kind of get that going.”