On Monday night, Russell Westbrook made NBA history for the Denver Nuggets. Westbrook, 36, led the Nuggets with 27 points, three rebounds, and three assists in 26 minutes played in a 145-118 loss to the New York Knicks at Ball Arena. Denver fell to 9-7, while New York improved to 10-7. Westbrook’s final stat line was noteworthy, despite the Nuggets’ loss to the Knicks at home.
Westbrook, a 17-year veteran point guard, had 27 points off the Nuggets bench. Westbrook scored 24 of those 27 points in the fourth quarter, the highest-scoring quarter of his Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame career. Despite not being an NBA champion, Westbrook is widely known as one of the most athletic guards in NBA history. Read on for further details surrounding Westbrook’s latest achievement and much more.
Russell Westbrook Makes NBA History
Russell Westbrook made NBA history after the Denver Nuggets vs. New York Knicks game on Monday night. The Nuggets were blown out by the Knicks 145-118, which was an awful home game for the Nuggets. Most of the Nuggets’ players didn’t show up, not even Nikola Jokic. Jokic finished with 22 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, but didn’t reach his usual production.
However, Westbrook’s notable performance was a bright spot after the game. Westbrook not only scored 24 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter but his fourth-quarter point total helped him join Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan and three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford as just the third player in NBA history at least 36 years old with 24 points or more in a single quarter.
On Monday night, StatMuse posted on X, “Russell Westbrook in the fourth quarter: 24 PTS, 8-11 FG, and 3-4 3P. His most points in a single quarter in his career.” StatMuse confirmed the specifics of Russell Westbrook’s latest stats, but it’s important to note that the NBA’s quarter-specific data only dates back to the 1996-97 NBA season. Even so, Jordan achieved the feat at 38 years old, while Crawford achieved the feat at 39 years old.
Russell Westbrook So Far This Season
Some people cast doubt on Russell Westbrook when he signed a two-year, veteran minimum contract worth $6.8 million with a player option for the 2025-26 NBA season. Westbrook was also blamed for the Denver Nuggets’ poor performance to start the 2024-25 NBA season, which was arguably unjust amid his poor production, efficiency, and plus-minus numbers. Westbrook’s stats were subpar as a shooter and a playmaker, but it’s up to the Nuggets to solidify his role with the team.
So far this season, Westbrook has averaged 12.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game, while shooting 39.4% from the field and 38.3% from the three-point line. Westbrook’s up in age and won’t be the same player he was four years ago. However, Westbrook has averaged a triple-double in four of his last five seasons, which is impressive — and inspiring — to anyone interested in professional basketball.
More Russell Westbrook News
Aside from becoming the third player in NBA history at least 36 years old to score 24 or more points in a single quarter, Russell Westbrook had his 405th career 25-point game in last night’s contest. This tied him with Basketball Hall of Fame Forward John Havlicek for the 30th most such games in NBA history, per StatHead on X.
After Westbrook’s historic game, Los Angeles Lakers Forward Anthony Davis was asked about his former teammate. Davis, 31, told Sports Illustrated, “He brings that energy … You know how Russ plays, he plays hard. Made some shots, some steals, he played how Russ plays. I’m pretty sure them guys know the history with us. Probably amped him up a little bit more. When he comes in the game, he’s very disruptive and brings that juice for them. Especially when he’s making plays, so I think that kinda helped them a lot tonight.”
Davis’ statement came just hours after leaked audio about the two players appearing to trade expletive-laden exchanges during the Lakers vs. Nuggets game on Saturday, November 23 at Crypto.com Arena. Davis and Westbrook were a fun duo to watch in Los Angeles, California, but Davis and LeBron James’ injuries overshadowed Westbrook’s stint with the Lakers.
