Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Denver Nuggets 95-94 on the back of some Russell Westbrook heroics. Westbrook scored 38 points, nine rebounds and six assists on a night were his fellow stars couldn’t follow. Paul George and Carmelo Anthony struggled scoring eight points and four points.

PLUS

Russell Westbrook fourth quarter

Russell Westbrook decided he was going to give the fans a flashback Monday against the Denver Nuggets as he took the game over in the fourth quarter to lead the Thunder to a 95-94 win. Westbrook went 7-of-12 at 58.2 percent and 1-of-3 from three-point range at 33.3 percent while also giving the Thunder four rebounds and a block in a quarter that he decided he needed to take over as the Thunder were done by 10 in the fourth. This is not something the Thunder thought it would need anymore after adding Paul George and Carmelo Anthony but they did and Westbrook was more than happy to do it.

Russell Westbrook is fully engaged on "Fine I'll do this myself" mode. — Royce Young (@royceyoung) December 19, 2017

Alex Abrines

Alex Abrines was a standout for the Thunder coming off the bench. Abrines was perfect against the Nuggets shooting 100 percent from the field, three-point range and the free throw line in a night where the Thunder struggled to get the ball in the basket. Abrines hit two three-point shots in the third quarter fighting against a red-hot Nuggets that were shooting 50 percent in the third quarter from deep on 5-of-10 shots. Abrines has struggled in the past couple of weeks but came up big to give the Thunder some much-needed scoring in the second half to keep them in the game allowing Russell Westbrook to be in striking distance to take the game over.

ABRINES FOR THREEE!! — Thunder Digest (@ThunderDigest) December 19, 2017

Dakari Johnson



Dakari Johnson had a great first quarter that saw him shoot 3-of-3 at 100 percent to score six points. Johnson started after Steven Adams missed for the second consecutive game with a concussion. Johnson did a great job filling in for Adams. Johnson’s first two baskets came off Russell Westbrook assists that show a good connection building between the two with Westbrook encouraging Johnson to back himself in and attacking the basket the second basket came from Johnson’s great work rate to follow Westbrook after Westbrook got a steal and found Johnson right behind him for the handoff and dunk. Johnson is growing into a great back up to Steven Adams and another weapon for Westbrook to use.

Russ with the steal and Dakari with the slam! Young fella doing things!!! — Thunder Digest (@ThunderDigest) December 19, 2017

MINUS

Three-point shooting

The Thunder struggled from behind the three-point line against the Denver Nuggets shooting 7-of-24 at 29.1 percent. Paul George struggled the most from three-point range shooting 16.7 percent on 1-of-6 shots, Carmelo Anthony couldn’t manage a three on three attempts. Alex Abrines was the standout shooting at 100 percent on three shots was the only shining light for the Thunder from deep.

Anthony and George

Combined Carmelo Anthony and Paul George shot 5-of-19 for 12 points and 1-of-9 from three-point range. Anthony had only one shot for the second and third quarter combined. George struggled in the third quarter shooting 1-of-7 from the field at 14.2 percent and 0-of-3 from three-point range. In a game that took Russell Westbrook to turn back into his MVP form in the fourth quarter George and Anthony offered nothing offensively when they were needed most they shot a combined 1-of-3 in the fourth and 0-of-2 from three the Thunder need Anthony and George to hit the shots they get no matter if its three or thirteen tonight they couldn’t do that.

Paul George ends the third quarter on the floor with the second unit. He's 2-of-11. — Erik Horne (@ErikHorneOK) December 19, 2017

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