(4) THUNDER V. (5) JAZZ
GAME 5
UTA 99 @ OKC 107
Down 71-46 in the third & trailing 3-1 in the series, OKC was on the very brink of elimination last night.
Everything was working for Utah - shots were falling, stops were carried out & no one outside of Russell Westbrook or Paul George could get anything going.
But once Westbrook decided his season wasn't going to end (at home, no less!), nothing else really mattered.*
*Ok, it wasn't that simple - Rudy Gobert picking up his 4th foul & subbing out (in the 3Q) was a big deal, as well as UTA's inability to create much offense that didn't run thru D. Mitchell
45!, 15! BOARDS & 7 DIMES V. UTA
Russ went 17/39! w/ 5 triples & 6 made FTs.
It was more volume + relentless attacking than a beautifully orchestrated performance but every attempt proved necessary, especially to overcome a 25!-pt. hole in an elimination game.
OKC's season is saved...for now. Is this series destined for 7?