he Thunder are about to tip off one of their most-important games of the season.
Less than a day from an overtime loss at Phoenix late Thursday night, Oklahoma City is back on the court. Like less than 20 hours after the loss.
In Portland. Against a really good Trail Blazers team.
Serious question: Where does this Thunder team go now after losing 117-113 to the Suns?
The Thunder dropped a tough one in Phoenix, Russell Westbrook did about everything he could, but we're entering some fairly new territory in a situation the the Thunder haven't really experienced this season.
No, of course this team isn't healthy. That's something OKC is used to. Kevin Durant is hurt, out for at least another few games before his right foot gets re-evaluated after a second surgery.
But the issue at hand is how the Thunder will react to a loss and how Westbrook will react, too.
Westbrook scored 39 points, had 14 rebound and 11 assists, but this triple-double, his second in a row, came in a loss. Now, what's next? Will he push too hard, take a step back like he did Thursday and need volume to get his points, or will Westbrook resist the urge to try and win games by himself, get others involved and pick and choose his spots like he did most of February?
In February, Westbrook was the MVP of the league. He averaged 30 points, eight rebounds and seven assists per game. In February he help lift the Thunder to a seven-game winning streak and vault into the playoff picture. He has five games in a row with 20 points, 10 assists and five rebounds. No one since Michael Jordan in 1988-89 has done that.
The Thunder are still in the No. 8 playoff spot and lost to Phoenix for the first time in three tries this year. Undoubtedly this team needs Westbrook to lead, but Westbrook needs to be more aware while doing so. He was 12-of-38 shooting, but it was the feel that he needed to take over by himself. Horrible game Thursday? Certainly not. More discretion needed? Definitely so.
And now the question is whether Westbrook will play the same way Friday night against Portland. A win against Portland, and it's back to normal. A loss, and suddenly the guy who has been an MVP, will be talked about and criticized as whether he deserves to be a team leader. This is a tough spot.
It's the first loss in eight games. It's the first time Westbrook and the Thunder have been extended, after winning six of the previous seven by 10 or more points.
How Westbrook responds will be the most-important factor in the most-important game of the season.
Follow Andrew Gilman on Twitter: @andrewgilmanOK
