Ricky Rubio isn’t a leaky faucet, but Russell Westbrook is treating him like one.
“I’ma shut that s*** off next game though. Guarantee that,” Westbrook said after Rubio torched him and the Thunder with 26 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists on Saturday night.
Thunder's Russell Westbrook on Ricky Rubio's strong Game 3 performance: "He made some shots. Too comfortable. I'ma shut that s— off next game though. Guarantee that." pic.twitter.com/jHo9cbZt3n
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) April 22, 2018
The win has Utah leading 2-1 in the best-of-seven series, and Rubio has matched up pound-for-pound with the reigning NBA MVP.
Series stats for the two:
- Rubio: 20.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 8 assists
- Westbrook: 20.7 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists
The former Wolves point guard shot 6-of-16 in Game 2 and only 5-of-18 in Game 1, but he’s also helped limit Westbrook to a combined 33 points on 36 shots the last two games.
Rubio, still only 27 years old, is now just two wins away from leading the Jazz to the second round of the playoffs.
Related:
– Wolves give Rockets a taste of their own medicine in Game 3 blowout.
“He’s a great player who turned it on at the right time for us,” said Derrick Favors, via the Salt Lake Tribune. “A lot of people are surprised by the way he’s shooting and the way he’s playing offense. But the guys saw it all the way back in training camp. He was hitting shots, making plays, getting to the rim, making plays for other guys. He’s played great for us.”
By the way, if both the Jazz and Wolves advance, they’ll meet each other in the second round.
