Westbrook responds to call from coach Brooks to bring more effort.
The Oklahoma City Thunder tied the Western Conference Finals at two games apiece after sealing another significant win in Game 4 on Tuesday night.
Point guard Russell Westbrook had 40 points, 10 assists and five steals in the victory, and it matched his second-highest playoff point total of his career after falling short of the 43 he put up in the 2012 NBA Finals.
Team-mate Kevin Durant has previously described him as an MVP-calibre player, and he certainly lived up to the tag on Tuesday by taking the game away from the San Antonio Spurs and ensuring his team get back on the road on level terms.
“Coach told us he needed maximum effort from us tonight, and it starts with me at point guard,” Westbrook said after the game.
“My job is to play both sides of the ball. If you want to win a championship, those are things you have to do.”
Despite seemingly taking over, Westbrook didn’t impact on Durant’s night as he finished with 31 points, while Serge Ibaka added nine points and eight rebounds for the hosts who have now turned this series right round.
Meanwhile, Spurs point guard Tony Parker insisted that they can’t think back to two years ago when they blew a 2-0 lead over the Thunder at this stage, as each series and each year is different. However, the Frenchman will undoubtedly be hoping for a better showing at home if they are to regain the momentum.
Kawhi Leonard conceded that his team are just not focused enough for the entire game, and they need to correct their mistakes quickly and get back to winning ways in order to protect their home-court advantage, which could ultimately be their saving grace in this series.
NBA Results:
San Antonio Spurs 92-105 Oklahoma City Thunder
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