NBA: Despite Westbrook comeback – Thunder lose again

Russell Westbrook is celebrating a strong comeback after his knee surgery in the summer, but the Oklahoma City Thunder will not be able to win for the first time this season. The Sacramento Kings can’t be stopped and play the spoilsport.

A few hours before the start of the game, Thunder coach Billy Donovan confirmed what had already been suspected: Russell Westbrook returned to the floor! After his knee operation in the summer, the Point Guard had missed the complete preparation and the first two games of the season, which were lost to the Thunder.

Dennis Schröder made room in the Starting Five for the undisputed star of the team, who acted without a minute limit – and from the first second on it seemed as if Westbrook had never been away. The 29-year-old attacked the enemy zone in his usual manner and already had an impressive statline after the first quarter (11 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists).

Nevertheless, the Thunder were behind at this point (34:32 for the Kings), as Iman Shumpert started the game absolutely hot on the other side. His teammates were obviously infected by this. The Kings sank just under 55 percent out of the field by half, keeping the Thunder at a distance.

Even after the break tea the guests from California didn’t let up. Led by Shumpert and his backcourt partners Buddy Hield (17) and De’Aaron Fox (22, 10 assists), Sacramento even extended his lead to 17 points. But of course the Thunder did not want to give up.

Both Paul George and the initially weak Schröder found their way better and better in the course of the game, DS17 acted both as the leader of the Second Unit and at times as the second ball handler alongside Westbrook – with success!

OKC fought back within striking distance, in the fourth quarter the Kings finally cooled down slowly but surely. Nevertheless, the Spalding always found its way through the cage at the Kings’ important moments. Especially Shumpert presented himself again and again as a spoilsport of the Thunder, by nipping a possible run of the landlords in the bud with important hits.

The 28-year-old collected a total of 26 points (9/13 FG). OKC, on the other hand, also left some good chances, especially from downtown, the Thunder hit a pitch-black evening (9 of 39 three, 23.1 percent) and so it hail the third bankruptcy in the third game of the season.

Westbrook made a strong comeback and scratched a triple-double (32 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists), but the point guard also lacked the rhythm from the distance (1/6 threes). PG13 contributed 29 points, Schröder once again showed light and shadow and came up with 14 points (5/16 FG) and 8 assists.