Russell Westbrook was cooking for the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half of their loss to the Charlotte Hornets. Unfortunately, he missed a would-be game-winning three-pointer in the final seconds, as the Lakers fell, 117-114.

(Westbrook's shot came with the Lakers down by two. The Lakers fouled on the rebound, and P.J. Washington sunk one of two freebies with 0.2 seconds left.)

Playing without LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Westbrook was awesome in the second half — perhaps his best stretch since joining the Lakers. Russ dropped 30 points in the final two quarters — the highest total in a single half for a Laker since … Kobe Bryant's final game.

Afterward, neither Westbrook nor Frank Vogel regretted Westbrook's decision to let it fly and go for the win.

“We had an opportunity for him to get to his left hand,” Vogel said. “Stanley rolling to the basket, Melo as a shooter behind the play. They switched out and, at that point, the hottest guy in the gym has the ball in his hands, ready to make a play. I have no problem with the shot that he took. He's 3-for-6 from the three in the second half. He went for the win. He knocks that down, we're talking about one hell of a win. Just didn't go down for us. But Russell was spectacular in that second half for us. 30 points. Just really willed our team into an opportunity to steal one on the road.”

According to Westbrook, his initial plan was to drive, then audibled when he was face-to-face with Bridges.

“I was trying to drive, and then Bridges kind of cut me off. And then, either win or go home. Felt like I was in a good rhythm. I'll live with it. It was on target, just a little short. I'll take it.”

RECOMMENDED (Article Continues Below)
Lakers' LeBron James, Anthony Davis Rui Hachimura with Nuggets' Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray

Jack Winter ·

Draymond Green, Ryan Garcia, Lakers, Nuggets, LeBron James

Jackson Stone ·

Lakers, Darvin Ham, D'Angelo Russell, Nuggets, LeBron James

Jackson Stone ·

Westbrook has confounded folks at times with questionable late-game shot selection, but it's hard to argue with him on this one. After a slow first half, Russ erupted for 35 points on 12-of-23 shooting, made 3-of-7 from deep (including the final miss), and even hit 8-of-10 from the line.

Above all else, he was the reason the Lakers were in contention to win.