The air was sucked from the arena. The season hung in the balance and everyone inside Chesapeake Energy Arena could feel it. Russell Westbrook was on the floor reaching down toward his left leg, releasing a scream followed by a floor slap. While Westbrook is great at feigning pain to a referee for emphasis, this was clearly different. As he hobbled his way off the floor and toward the locker room, Dennis Schroder checked into the game for the Thunder.
A seven-point lead with 4:25 left in the third quarter was simultaneously the most and least important thing at that moment.