Russell Westbrook admits he was frustrated when Scott Brooks took him out in the third quarter: NBA
The third quarter of the Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat was the one in which Oklahoma City Thunder made a huge charge. It also turned out to be the one in which Thunder lost the plot.
Leading by 60-51 midway through the frame, Kevin Durant left for the bench after committing his fourth personal foul and 40 seconds later, the other All-Star in the team Russell Westbrook also followed him.
Westbrook was involved in a series of senseless and a tad selfish plays, during which he committed two turnovers and missed two shots, one from within the three point line and the other from beyond it. Durant also got fouled out
during that span and with the Heat getting easy possessions; Scott Brook was left with no choice but to call his point guard out with 5:01 left in the frame.
The exit of both Westbrook and Durant triggered a 15-3 Miami run which saw the hosts convert a 10-point deficit into a 2 point lead by the close of the third quarter. Miami eventually went on to win the game 91-85.
In the post game press conference, the OKC one guard was bombarded with questions regarding his withdrawal and admitted that he wanted to stay in the game when Scott pulled the plug;
"Just wanted to stay in the game," he said. "You know, it was an important time at the time, an opportunity for us to go up who knows how many points. Just upset with myself."
"It was the coach's decision," Westbrook added. "You have to live with it. Didn't have too many conversations of coming back into the game, just kind of just waited and seeing when I get called to go back in."
Westbrook finished the game with 19 points on an 8 of 18 shooting from the floor. He returned early in the fourth quarter and immediately sank a jumper. Russell’s next shot came with 1:30 remaining in the game, which made it 85-86.
However the point guard missed two three pointer right at the death. The first opportunity could have tied the game for OKC and who know what would have happened after that.
Nevertheless, Westbrook still remains one of the major threats the Heat would face in the remainder of the series and it is only a matter of Westbrook being in the right mindset, one that focuses on the team rather than his individual
glory.
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