Clippers’ Russell Westbrook Saves Day vs. Suns: ‘Whatever is Needed to Win, I’ll Do It’

Russell Westbrook couldn’t shoot worth a lick. Unless you think 3-of-19 from the field is a decent night.

But man, the Clippers guard sure did everything else well in a 115-110 stunner of a Game 1 road win over the Suns on Sunday.

True, he scored just nine points — but he also grabbed 10 rebounds and passed for eight assists, as well as compiled three blocks and two steals. One of those steals came when he swiped the ball from Suns guard Devin Booker near the end of the game, then quickly bounced the ball off Booker and out of bounds.

It sealed the deal for the Clippers.

“My whole career, I pride myself every season on doing everything,” Westbrook said. “Whatever is needed of me to win the game, I’ll do it.”

Star forward Kawhi Leonard suggested that much is obvious when it comes to Westbrook.

“Making winning plays, getting deflections on balls, offensive rebounding, getting us into our sets — that is playoff basketball,” Leonard said. “You might not have the best night shooting, but you’ve got to impact the game some type of way and he did that tonight.”

Westbrook was acquired on the buyout market via the Jazz, who acquired him in a trade-deadline deal with the Lakers.  He made the play of the game, there’s no doubt about it.

But Clippers coach Tyronn Lue will tell you it took a team-wide effort in the truest sense. That was especially the case after the Suns overcame an early deficit to tie the game at 81-all entering the fourth quarter.

Rather than wilt, though, the Clippers fought through it.

“They’re going to make a run at home, we understood that,” Lue said. “We built a lead, they made a run, and now we’ve got to keep our composure and be ready to fight back. I thought everyone who played tonight was great.”

• In case you missed it, the Clippers are expected to be without forward Paul George for the entire series. We have that full story here.