The Los Angeles Lakers start a five-game road trip on Tuesday evening, and the first stop is Oklahoma City, where Long Beach native Russell Westbrook and the Thunder welcome the Lakers to Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Thunder superstar Kevin Durant, who is the reigning league MVP, recently took a step back in his rehabilitation from a foot injury. Per Royce Young of ESPN, Durant was "removed from basketball activities" and is currently flirting with missing the remainder of the season according to Thunder general manager Sam Presti.
The day before Presti updated Durant's status, Westbrook scored 36 points to go along with 14 assists and 10 rebounds in a victory over the best team in the East, the Atlanta Hawks. The day after Durant's status update, Westbrook finished one rebound shy of a triple-double in a one-sided victory over the playoff-chasing Miami Heat.
Durant or not, the Oklahoma City Thunder can beat the best, and Westbrook deserves recognition for his astonishing play. The 26-year-old has logged seven triple-doubles in his last 13 games. From Feb. 24, when Westbrook started a four-game streak of triple-doubles, to Mar. 24, when the Lakers play the Thunder, the volcanic guard is averaging 32.2 points, 11.1 assists and 10.3 rebounds per game.
Yes, Westbrook has averaged a triple-double for a full month of the NBA season. The fact that he accomplished that remarkable feat while averaging 30-plus points per game is mind-boggling. Westbrook may not be in position to win a title if Durant's status does not dramatically improve, but he is the single most exciting player in the NBA at the moment.
Facing Westbrook, the Lakers roll out rookie point guard Jordan Clarkson. While the Lakers' rookie appears to be hitting a metaphorical wall at this late stage of the season, facing Westbrook promises to provide a few spotlight moments for the 22-year-old. Clarkson fits the Westbrook model in that he is an over-sized point guard with a shoot-first mentality, exceptional speed and next-level athleticism. If Clarkson turns into anything close to Westbrook, that $1 million the Lakers spent on the second round draft pick could be the best investment the Lakers have made in a long time.
Entering Tuesday night's game, Westbrook appears to be realizing his potential, while the Lakers' rookie has barely glimpsed all that he can be. Clarkson versus Westbrook may not exactly sell tickets in Oklahoma City, but for fans of the Lakers still watching games in LA, Mar. 24 is about as good as the season gets from here on out.
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Tip-off is 5 p.m. Pacific Time.
Game Notes: Lakers coach Byron Scott will not be present due to the passing of his mother. Assistant coach Paul Pressey will assume the lead seat on the bench. Prior to the team departing, Scott announced that Clarkson, Jeremy Lin, Wesley Johnson, Ryan Kelly and Tarik Black will start Tuesday's game. Nick Young, who suffered a fracture in his left kneecap, remains sidelined for the Lakers.
