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NBA Monday Social: Remembering two iconic OKC Thunder moments

ByAlex Mcewen|
Former OKC Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Former OKC Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Remember when Russell Westbrook broke the Big O’s record and hit a dagger in Denver, or what about PG’s buzzer-beater vs. the Rockets last year? Find out what both contests have in common in our NBA Monday Social.

What a difference a year (or three) can make. April 9, will forever be a significant date in Oklahoma City Thunder franchise history. Foremost, former Thunder All-Star and MVP Russell Westbrook broke Oscar Robertson’s triple-double record and hit a dagger in Denver to drop the Nuggets from playoff contention on the date in 2017.

Fast forward two years later to 2019 and another former Thunder All-Star, Paul George, hit his own game-winner against the Houston Rockets in a classic Thunder comeback.

In a different universe, George hitting the buzzer-beater would have done what it did for Westbrook, cement his grasp on the MVP. But, alas PG’s shoulder’s went out near the end of February and the Thunder slowly slipped down the standings and ultimately bowed out in the first round yet again.

With that said for one glorious moment on April 9, none of that mattered. The sold-out crowd inside Chesapeake Energy Arena created a movie-esque scene creating a collective roar louder than any clap of Thunder as George’s fatal trey ripped through the nylon net.

Long before the term social distancing became ingrained in our brains; strangers in the Peake hugged like family and high-fived like children on a playground. Let’s flashback to the past and relive both spectacular moments from a social standpoint below, starting with Russ’ day in the mile-high city.

Straight from the Brodie himself

Russ’ post-game on-court interview

Always got time for the fans

NBA photography captures every possible emotion

Introducing the Big O 2.Zero

Garnering respect from his peers

WhyNot? take a two-minute timeout

The King chimed in

Hist0ry

Oklahoma-native Blake Griffin

Seattle-native Jamal Crawford

https://twitter.com/JCrossover/status/851211484931772416?s=20

Another salute from King James

https://twitter.com/JCrossover/status/851211484931772416?s=20

That’s exactly what they did Mr. Turner

Oh the inside jokes

https://twitter.com/CJMcCollum/status/851213305020530688?s=20

The Looking Eyes

https://twitter.com/Dame_Lillard/status/851213526597197826?s=20

Kevin Love gushes over his former teammate

An OKC Thunder -rous celebration

https://twitter.com/NBAonTNT/status/851225671686860800?s=20

Give it up to yourself when you are right

The Brodie dominates IG

What a pioneer

Forget MVP, we’ve got the MVB

What a shot on the court and behind the lens

34 seconds of greatness

#42

Shifting to PG: Relive the moment now…

True

PG has always respected the late great Kobe Bryant

He also respects his former teammate Russell Westbrook

Ros captured the evening

What a night this was

It didn’t pan out, therefore matchups are irrelevant

One impactful shot

Always been the comeback

Sniper Mentality

Funny how things work out sometimes

As it turned out, this was he and Westbrook’s final regular-season home game.

Russ shared the moment on his IG feed, on the second slide

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv-Qy2flQj-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

And, PG did the same

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwEC3cxHmpz/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Happy (belated) Easter

I couldn’t break tradition and skip this week’s high note. Sticking with the Westbrook theme it was an easy choice to include this cute family pic of the Westbrooks.

It’s becoming harder to think of a witty ending for this column, so this time it will be simple and straightforward; let’s have a great week together. While continuing to adjust to this new normal together.

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