Russell Westbrook drops Jusuf Nurkic with hip and shoulder

Russell Westbrook and Paul George might have learned a thing or two from Steven Adams judging from their fierce hits on a rival player.


Paul George again delivered the goods for OKC.Source:AP

Just a fortnight ago Portland centre Jusuf Nurkic was getting in Ben Simmons’ face.

Now, he’s had Oklahoma City stars Paul George and Russell Westbrook in his.

It’s no real secret that the Thunder and the Blazers don’t like each other but things went up a notch in Portland on Friday (AEDT).

While Damian Lillard shot the lights out for the Blazers with an astonishing 51 points it ultimately wasn’t enough as Westbrook (37) and George (32) combined 69 as the Thunder ran out 129-121 victors in overtime.

The game got there after ending 113-all in regular time as Nurkic was ejected for a pair of technicals, including one that saw him go nose-to-nose with George in the dying seconds.

That in itself may have been retaliation for what George did to him up the other end just seconds before, as the MVP candidate sent Nurkic crashing to the floor after hitting him with a cocked elbow.

Words were then exchanged between Nurkic and George under Portland’s basket. After a review both received offsetting technicals, and a foul was called on the Thunder.

Because Nurkic already had a technical, he was ejected and the Thunder chose Blazers reserve Skal Labissiere to make the free throws. He missed both, but a loose-ball foul was called on the Thunder and Al-Farouq Aminu made both shots to tie it at 113 with 2.9 seconds left.

That was but a taste of what they had in store for the Portland centre.

Westbrook had earlier tangled with him and sent him crashing to the floor by responding to an attempted trip with a decent hip and shoulder.

The win gives the Thunder a 4-0 series sweep over Portland this season, which could be crucial come the playoffs.

GIANNIS LOSES IT AT REF IN BUCKS WIN

Giannis Antetokounmpo produced 29 points, 12 rebounds and five assists to help the Milwaukee Bucks cruise to a 117-98 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

The giant forward channelled his frustration over a technical foul midway through the third quarter in the best way possible.

The Bucks ran off 13 consecutive points after the Greek Freak was assessed a technical, one possession after he was knocked down attempting a shot, with no foul called.

Antetokounmpo started the spurt with a slam dunk and finished it with another to put Milwaukee up 80-64 with 2:56 left in the period.

“Sometimes you take it out on the ref, sometimes you take it out on yourself. Today, obviously I took it out on the ref and got a tech. Definitely deserved it,” said Antetokounmpo.

Khris Middleton chimed in with 27 points and three steals for the home side, who snapped their first two-game losing streak of the season, while Brook Lopez added 13 points and Eric Bledsoe 12.