OKLAHOMA CITY -- When Domantas Sabonis inbounded the ball to Russell Westbrook with 11.5 seconds remaining and the Oklahoma City Thunder down two Friday night, there wasn't much wondering about what would happen next. It was just a question of what the result would be.

Westbrook was always going to take a 3 for the win, and in this case, it hit off the back iron and fell into the hands of Jamal Crawford as the Los Angeles Clippers held on 110-108.

"Yeah, yeah," Westbrook said, "I should've probably drove it, but it's all right."

It's hard not to only remember what you last saw and focus in on the final attempt -- a leaning, contested 25-footer with the Thunder down two and plenty of time on the clock -- but Westbrook played fantastically down the stretch. The Thunder have had significant issues with their bench when Westbrook is off the floor, getting outscored by almost 17 points per 100 possessions while playing what would be the worst statistical offense in the league, but it held firm against the Clippers with Westbrook re-entering in the fourth with eight minutes to go and only down six.

Russell Westbrook had 29 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists Friday against the Clippers, but his last-gasp 3 went begging in the 110-108 loss. Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images

Going against the rolling Clippers and their formidable list of All-Stars, Westbrook was going to need to play as close to perfect as he could for the Thunder to close the gap, and that's basically what he did. He drew fouls and got to the line. He took smart shots. In a one-on-one transition opportunity against J.J. Redick, he kicked to a wide-open Victor Oladipo in the corner, who made it a one possession game with 2:45 left. He hit a 3 a possession later to tie the game. He set up Steven Adams for two free throws. He trusted teammates, trying to set up good looks rather than bear the burden himself and launch the hero one. Westbrook did almost everything right. And then he fired up that final 3.

"I trust Russell," Thunder coach Billy Donovan said. "With a guy like Russell, and you don't have a timeout and you're not scripting something, I trust him. Because he's going to try and make a play to help us win."

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It's the Thunder's plight this season: live by Westbrook and, sometimes, die by him. He closed out the Clippers masterfully -- despite 10 turnovers -- in their first meeting, Nov 2. He almost did the same Friday, but went for the win and missed. Westbrook is forever polarizing for exactly how he played those final eight minutes, flashing jaw-dropping brilliance to build up to a curiously brash decision. But with Kevin Durant no longer there to mediate, it's Westbrook's ball and his ball alone. It was his choice to drive, to shoot or to pass. And when it comes to winning time, Westbrook has always had a hard time letting go.

This is where the Thunder have the most to learn this season. The choices weren't so hard to make the past eight. As much criticism as Westbrook took, he routinely searched for Durant in these types of situations. Now the Thunder have to find their crunch-time identity, and while it will obviously center around Westbrook, he has the difficult task of toeing the line between assuming the responsibility of an alpha and deferring to the "right play."

Westbrook often just wants to win too much for his own good. As Donovan said: "He plays to win." Maybe he was thinking about the fact he had five fouls. Maybe he was thinking it was going to be difficult for the Thunder to keep up with the Clippers in overtime. Or maybe he just saw his chance to win, and he couldn't resist it. Whatever his reasoning actually was, it doesn't really matter. Because he was always going to take it.

Westbrook was predictably angry after the game, dressing at his locker at the speed of "Quick Change" and spending roughly only 40 seconds talking to the Thunder's sideline reporter as the rest of the media members were in Donovan's and Doc Rivers' news conferences. It was a strong performance by the Thunder against one of the league's elites but a missed opportunity. Westbrook wanted to win badly. And sometimes, he can't get out of his own way trying to do it.