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It’s been a rough start to the season to Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder. They’ve now lost four games in a row and dropped to 4-7 on the season after their latest defeat against the Denver Nuggets.
That Nuggets game was the fifth such game this season where the Thunder were within five points or fewer within the last five minutes. They still haven’t won a single one of those games, joining the bottom-dwelling Dallas Mavericks as the two teams left in the league who haven’t done so.
Thunder are 0-5 this season in games that have been within 5 points in final 5 minutes.
Only other winless team is Mavericks (0-6). pic.twitter.com/Ur4XhnhAWC
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 9, 2017
That record is a far cry from the Thunder’s performances in the clutch last season. Russell Westbrook almost single-handedly rescued them multiple times with numerous clutch plays and a handful of game-winning baskets, perhaps none more famous than his three-point bomb to beat the Nuggets late last season.
Many expected the arrival of Paul George and Carmelo Anthony to help the Thunder on offense, particularly in those types of late-game situations. Obviously, though, that has been far from the case so far.
Westbrook clearly seems to be struggling to adjust at the moment. He had just 13 points on 6-of-22 shooting against the Nuggets, the third time in four games he’s shot 35 percent or below.
It’ll likely take a bit more time for Westbrook, as well as George and Anthony, to get comfortable with their situation. Until then, though, the Thunder may have to continue enduring some growing pains, particularly during crunch time.
