OKC Thunder Beat Houston Rockets (113-92) As OKC Fans Get A Win/Win In Russ’ Return

This game had emotions running wild with the return of Russell Westbrook. This was the first game that Russell Westbrook was playing in OKC as a member of the Houston Rockets. From the walk into the arena to the tip of the game everyone had their eyes on Russell Westbrook. It was weird for everyone to see Russell Westbrook in a Houston Rockets jersey in Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Oklahoma City Thunder had played a special tribute for Russell Westbrook pregame which got everyone in their feelings. Westbrook waved at the fans and acknowledged them as he went for his pregame routine of running and yelling to the crowd to hype them up.

Once the game started it was OKC from the start to finish as the Thunder could do no wrong. With all the emotion around the return of Russell Westbrook, the crowd was hyped and ready to cheer on their team. It would be Danilo Gallinari who would get the scoring party started for the Thunder as he scored a quick 10 points to get the offense going. The Rockets had no one that was able to guard Gallinari on the mismatch all night and he led the OKC Thunder scoring. It didn’t matter if it was inside or outside Gallinari was making the Rockets pay as he finished the game with 23 points. The Thunder three guards Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chris Paul, and Dennis Schröder made it tough on the Rockets all night as well. Shai was able to use his length to create his offense and he was extremely crafty to the rim. When Shai plays with this type of confidence he feels unguardable and his play energizes the rest of the team. Shai finished with 20 points on the night and made the best of every opportunity the Rockets gave him. Dennis Schröder came in and was able to set the tone for the bench as he’s been special all season long. The way that Schröder plays the game and the pace he plays with he was no match for Austin Rivers who was guarding him. Schröder finished with 16 points on the game and he was able to bring that energy to the game that the Thunder needed. Schröder plays with a chip on his shoulder and kept attacking the Rockets players inside the paint with ease. Dennis Schröder has one of the quickest first steps in the NBA and when he decides to make his move he usually blows by the defender. The last of the three guards for OKC that have put this team on their backs is Chris Paul. CP3 has been able to put this team on his back in the second half of a lot of these games as of late and tonight was no different. CP3 finished the game with 18 points but was able to showcase a lot of his talent as he tried to show his old teammates in Houston he still has it. Dennis Scott said “Flashback CP3” the other night and you can tell that CP3 wanted to show he has a lot more in the tank. The Thunder proved it tonight that if they play as a team and a unit that nothing can get in the way of their success. People doubted this team coming into tonight’s game against the Rockets and they proved yet again that anything is possible. The defense from Terrance Ferguson on James Harden was amazing as Harden was held to only 17 points on the night.

Tonight was all about Russell Westbrook as he was able to return to the city that he loves. Westbrook had one of his better games on the year as he was the only Rockets player that was able to do anything on the evening. Russell Westbrook finished with 34 points on the night and was attacking the rim like it did something to him. Westbrook said “I felt like I was home” and that’s the way he played as well tonight as he was the Rocket offense. Westbrook had his way in the paint against Shai and was able to hit his mid-range jumper but that wasn’t enough as the Thunder were blowing out the Rockets throughout the game. Overall this was what the Thunder fans wanted and they got exactly what they paid for tonight. They wanted to get all the Westbrook moments that they could get with a Thunder win and that’s what they got tonight.