OKLAHOMA CITY—With seven seconds remaining in the first half Monday night against the New York Knicks, Russell Westbrook whipped a pass to Joffrey Lauvergne under the basket. Kristaps Porzingis reached out at the last second to deflect the pass, resulting in a Thunder turnover. Time expired and Oklahoma City took a 58-55 lead into halftime.
Westbrook was on the verge of a rare halftime triple-double. With 14 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, the Thunder star just needed Lauvergne to catch and finish, but Porzingis’ fingertips ruined it. That Westbrook passed up a mildly contested jumper in his comfort zone in favor of a risky pass spoke volumes.