On the court, Jimmy Butler's long-range shot missed the mark.
Russell Westbrook reacted lightning-fast, snagging the rebound before immediately pushing the pace on the break!
As an explosively athletic guard, grabbing a rebound himself and leading the fast break was one of Westbrook's greatest strengths.
He quickly cut through the crowd, like a bolt of lightning streaking across the Thunder's home court.
Westbrook gritted his teeth and locked his eyes on the basket.
The orange rim was right in front of him. In the previous few games, getting the ball into the basket had been effortless for him.
But today, the distance between him and the hoop had become impossibly vast.
Link was like a mountain, a towering wall, a raging river, forever standing between him and the basket.
Again and again, possession after possession, he stopped him.
Westbrook still refused to believe that scoring would be this difficult today! This time, he could solve everything!
"Russell is incredibly fast! He's passed most of the Grizzlies players! This guy is a blade on the fast break—he's driven into the paint! He's stabbed straight into the defending champions' heart!"
Michael Cage was extremely excited. As a local Oklahoma City commentator, he had called far too many Thunder home games this season.
Normally, in that situation, Westbrook would simply blast straight to the rim. No one could possibly react or sprint faster than him!
Westbrook thought so too. With his eyes fixed on the basket, he leaped high into the air, the muscles in his arms taut as he prepared to slam the ball through the hoop!
He believed that all his pent-up frustration would shatter along with this dunk! Once it shattered, everything would get better.
But just as Westbrook raised the ball behind his head, a powerful hand firmly pressed