Russell Westbrook Scored 43 Points Against the Heat, and Here's Video of Every Basket
By Jason McIntyre
Russell Westbrook’s scintillating 43-point night against the Heat in Game 4 has to be one of the 10 greatest performances in NBA Finals history. At one point in the 4th quarter, Westbrook scored 11 straight points for OKC, keeping the Thunder in the game when the Heat repeatedly threatened to pull away. If it wasn’t the elbow jumper, it was a dazzling drive to the basket. Or a dunk-back. Or some impossibly difficult contortionist shit. It truly sucks that he committed a foul after the jump ball in the final seconds, allowing Mario Chalmers to ice the game for Miami.
20-of-32 FGs, 43 points, seven rebounds, five assists. Where might it rank in here?
Other games in the Top 10:
Magic Game 6 vs. Philadelphia, 1980 (Rookie scores 42 points, takes 15 rebounds)
Michael Jordan’s Flu Game vs. Utah (38 points)
Michael Jordan’s push-off game-winner vs. Utah (45 points in 1998)
James Worthy Triple-Double in Game 7 (36 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists)
Dwyane Wade saves the Heat in Game 3 (42 points, 13 rebounds, game-winning FTs)
Isiah Thomas goes off on a bum ankle (43 points, 25 in the 3rd quarter, in a loss)
Michael Jordan’s shoulder shrug game vs. Portland (39 points, 6 3-pointers in the first half)
Michael Jordan erupts vs. Phoenix in Game 3 (55 points)
[UPDATE]
Allen Iverson scores 48 points in Game 1 win against the Lakers
The only reason Westbrook probably doesn’t crack the Top 5 is that it was in a loss.