Russ logs historic 10th consecutive triple-double
Russell Westbrook puts up 21 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists, setting an NBA record with his 10th straight triple-double by passing Wilt Chamberlain. (1:48)
OKLAHOMA CITY — As the crowd showered him with a raucous standing ovation, Russell Westbrook turned to the Portland Trail Blazers bench and gave a little wink.
A drive and kick to set Paul George up for a 3 made NBA history: A 10th consecutive triple-double, breaking Wilt Chamberlain‘s mark of nine straight set in 1968.
It looked like a long shot for Westbrook, needing five assists in the final eight minutes, but with a quick flurry of setups, the Oklahoma City Thunder point guard was up to nine with four minutes to go. On a pick-and-pop with George, Westbrook hit his All-Star teammate in rhythm, and the rest was, well, history, as OKC topped Portland 120-111.
The triple-doubles didn’t end there, though.
Westbrook returned the favor a few minutes later, hitting a deep 3 set up by George, giving George his third career triple-double — with 47 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, featuring 15-of-26 shooting and 8-of-13 from 3.
It is the second time this season that teammates have recorded triple-doubles in the same game (LeBron James and Lonzo Ball) and the ninth time in NBA history.
Westbrook finished with 18 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists in 37 minutes. It was his league-leading 23rd triple-double of the season.
Westbrook had two previous streaks of seven straight triple-doubles — both in his MVP-winning 2016-17 season — but finally passed Michael Jordan and his own previous mark last week, then caught Chamberlain on Saturday at the Houston Rockets, before setting the new mark on Monday.