Following the Oklahoma City Thunder‘s 99-96 win over the Boston Celtics, spirits were high in the locker room after winning seven of their last eight games, thanks in large part to Russell Westbrook‘s triple-double antics.
Center Steven Adams, who enjoyed an efficient night at home with 16 points on 7-of-8 from the field and eight rebounds, wasn't all that impressed with his teammate's eye-popping numbers through the team's winning stretch.
“Useless,” Adams told ESPN's Royce Young jokingly. “Only seven?”
Only seven indeed, as Westbrook finished tied with Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson for the second-longest streak of all-time, two short of Wilt Chamberlain's mark of nine straight in 1968.
The 6-foot-3 point guard had 37 points and 12 rebounds, coming four assists shy of his eighth straight feat. Hard to fault him, though, considering the Thunder shot a dismal 3-of-21 from beyond the arc, while he made two of them.
All six of Westbrook's dishes set up baskets made within eight feet.
“I'm not really into them. I don't really care,” Adams said of Westbrook's triple-doubles. “It's more so his energy and his leadership. And then as a dude, he's just a really good guy. That's all as a team we expect, and he comes and shows regardless of what the stat sheet says or whatever, that he's just a good dude and makes everyone around him better. Top lad. Top lad.”
He drew similar praise from his head coach Billy Donovan, who's been utterly pleased with his all-around effort on the court through the first 24 games of the season that have the team sitting sixth in an ultra-competitive Western Conference.
“I think Russell understands and sees that certainly getting those seven straight games is remarkable,” Donovan said, “but I don't think tonight is any less remarkable of what he did.”
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