Houston was looking for its first win of the season, and to get it they needed a big night from Russell Westbrook (in part because James Harden was just 2-of-18 from three).
They got it, a triple-double of 28 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds.
That was Westbrook’s 139th triple-double of his career, moving him past Magic Johnson into second on the all-time list (behind only Oscar Robertson at 181).
Russell Westbrook on passing Magic Johnson on the all-time triple-doubles list: "For me, that’s a great accomplishment, especially growing up never thinking I’d play in the NBA. Now, I’ll be in the history books.”
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) October 27, 2019
It’s easy to take for granted the triple-double numbers Westbrook puts up, he does it with regularity that we become numb to it. We shouldn’t. Racking up those numbers is hard, it takes skill, and while he’s not always the most efficient player on the court his energy and effort — and with that his ability to lift up those around him — helps teams win.
The Rockets won Saturday 129-126, but they had to hang on against a shorthanded Pelicans team (no Zion Williamson, and no Jrue Holiday). Houston did that despite shooting 1-of-10 down the stretch, but they sank their free throws when it mattered.
