MVP? Westbrook has Monstrous Game in Orlando

Orlando, Fla. – – Russell Westbrook is a monster, and he proved that basketball nightmares can become reality against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.

Westbrook scored 57 points, 19 in the fourth quarter alone, to complete a freakish triple double that included 11 assists and 13 rebounds. This total represented the most points scored in a triple double in NBA history, the most points scored in the Amway Center, and the third-most given up by the Magic in franchise history.

The Magic led by as many as 21 points in the third quarter, and by 10 when Russell Westbrook checked in with 7:45 left in the game. Russ would go on a ridiculous tear, hitting 8-of-14 shots, three triples, and grabbing three boards in the quarter, nailing a game-typing three-pointer to send the game to overtime.

In OT Westbrook and the Thunder continued their run, outscoring the Magic 12-4 despite an early triple by Magic man Terrence Ross, which scored the first points of overtime.

This loss is probably the most disheartening of the Magic’s season, as they were so close to beating such an elite team at home. On one side, it was a dominant performance by an MVP candidate in Russell Westbrook, but on the other side, it was another instance of this Magic team having a win in their grasp and bungling it away with poor offensive execution late.

The Magic shot 23 percent from the field in the final period of regulation and 1-of-8 in overtime. The free throw line is what ultimately sunk Orlando, however, as they would be 9-of-14 in the fourth quarter with several misses coming at key times late in the game. Twice did Magic center Nikola Vucevic, a 67 percent free throw shooter, go to the line in the game’s final 20 seconds to stop the bleeding and seal the win for Orlando. Both times, he missed a shot.

“I missed a couple of shots I usually make; they’re kind of my go-to’s,” said the Montenegrin big man, “I missed a lot of shots tonight especially in the fourth I missed a couple of free throws. We went to me a lot and I didn’t deliver.”

Magic point guard Elfrid Payton was also 1-of-4 at the line in the fourth.

“We were getting good shots and making shots at the rim,” said Payton, “I didn’t make my free throws tonight. If I make my free throws, we win this game in regulation.”

Evan Fournier, the Magic’s leading scorer with 24, was scoreless in the fourth quarter as well.

This loss drops the Magic to 27-48. Their preseason playoff goals were formally put to bed yesterday when Orlando was mathematically eliminated from the postseason.

The Magic will hit the road for their next two, traveling to Boston to take on the Celtics Friday and then to Brooklyn to take on the Nets on Saturday.

Magic

STARTERS	MIN	FG	3PT	FT	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
A. GordonPF	41	5-11	1-5	2-2	1	4	5	1	4	1	0	2	—	13
T. RossSF	45	9-17	5-11	0-0	0	1	1	2	1	1	3	2	—	23
N. VucevicC	33	3-14	0-0	5-8	2	14	16	1	1	2	0	3	—	11
E. PaytonPG	38	4-12	0-0	3-8	2	4	6	8	0	1	3	4	—	11
E. FournierSG	41	9-22	3-8	3-3	1	5	6	5	1	0	5	3	—	24
BENCH	MIN	FG	3PT	FT	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
B. BiyomboC	20	5-7	0-0	2-2	4	7	11	2	0	2	0	4	—	12
D.J. AugustinPG	15	2-5	0-2	4-4	0	2	2	2	1	0	3	1	—	8
M. HezonjaSG	18	2-5	0-2	0-0	1	4	5	2	0	1	0	0	—	4
J. MeeksSG	14	0-4	0-2	0-0	0	1	1	1	1	0	0	3	—	0
D. RudezSF	DNP-COACH’S DECISION
S. ZimmermanC	DNP-COACH’S DECISION
C.J. WatsonPG	DNP-COACH’S DECISION
C. WilcoxSG	DNP-COACH’S DECISION
TEAM		39-97	9-30	19-27	11	42	53	24	9	8	14	22		106
		40.2%	30.0%	70.4%