Russell Westbrook’s night couldn’t be much better when he played against the Ja Morant-led Memphis Grizzlies in FedEx Forum earlier today. The former MVP scored 36 points and dished out 10 assists in the Clippers’ win over the Grizzlies, 141-132.
Already shorthanded due to Leonard missing the game plus the injury of Paul George, Westbrook led the Clippers’ attack and scored 20 points in the first half.
His recent play for the Clippers is a far cry from his days with the Lakers where he struggled to play along with Anthony Davis and LeBron James. Westbrook looks much happier in a Clippers uniform after he was recruited heavily by his former OKC running mate, Paul George. He was bought out by the Utah Jazz after the trade deadline and the Clippers nabbed him in the buyout market.
Since leaving OKC, the 34-year-old former MVP has bounced around the league and has yet to truly find a home for his style of play. While his athleticism and bounce are no longer comparable to his days in OKC, Westbrook is still a nightly triple-double threat whenever he steps on the court.
One huge knack about Westbrook’s game is his inability to consistently hit the three-pointer. That narrative was far from his performance at least for tonight as he made 5/5 shots from behind the arc against the Grizzlies.
This was a massive win for the Clippers as they are looking forward to securing a playoff berth in the West this season.
