The Rockets had not seen the version of Russell Westbrook they had faced for years. While he worked his way back from an off-season of rehab and a preseason with a dislocated finger, Westbrook had shown only brief glimpses of his MVP form.
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When the Rockets were in trouble in Thursday’s fourth quarter, the OKC version of Westbrook arrived. Westbrook scored 16 fourth-quarter points, making 4 of 7 shots while his teammates went 1 of 15.
“Just his ability to create and disrupt and offensive rebound,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said.