The Oklahoma City Thunder had an embarrassing defensive breakdown late in their Game 3 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night, and Russell Westbrook is taking the blame for it.
With less than five minutes remaining and the score tied, Tony Parker was given the ball in transition and allowed to take a wide open jump shot. Several Thunder players pointed at him, but no one picked him up.
That turned out to be a very important possession, as the Spurs won by a score of 100-96. After the game, Westbrook said he should have been with Parker on that play.
“It’s frustrating. But it’s my man. It’s my fault,” he told Anthony Slater of The Oklahoman. “I gotta be able to get back and match up. Especially when he’s wide open like that. Especially with the game on the line.”
Westbrook had an incredibly rough night, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Slater shared several more clips that show him loafing on defense and losing track of his man. He also turned the ball over five times and took a whopping 31 shots, converting less than 33 percent of them.
“Too many shots. I think honestly I gotta do a better job, like I said before, of getting guys good shots,” Westbrook said. “Steven (Adams) got one shot. I gotta get other guys involved to beat this team. Even though I had some shots I make, I gotta read and find ways to get guys good shots. I’ll take the blame.”
The Thunder led by four at one point in the fourth quarter. They now trail the Spurs 2-1, and losing a home game like that could certainly come back to haunt them. Westbrook and Durant were seen arguing during Game 2 (video here), so there have already been moments of frustration for OKC during the series. Friday night’s loss will only add to that.
