Packing It Up

Russell Westbrook’s Crazy Stat Line Adds to Record-Breaking Triple-Double Run

The Washington Wizards were atrocious when the season began. They went 3-12 through 15 games in December and January, and then Russell Westbrook hit another gear. Now, the Wizards — winners in eight of their last 10 games — are firmly in the playoff hunt, and Westbrook is hunting history on a nightly basis. The triple-double machine tallied a ridiculous stat line on Monday night (14 points, 21 rebounds and 24 assists) in a win over the Pacers (154-141) where Washington tossed the most team assists (50) in an NBA game since 1990. It marked Westbrook’s second career 20-plus rebound and 20-plus assist performance.

Editor’s Note: Wilt Chamberlain is the only other player in NBA history to accomplish that feat, but Westbrook has now done it twice.

Chasing The Big ‘O’

Westbrook tallied 14 triple-doubles in the month of April — a stat overshadowed by Steph Curry’s red-hot shooting month. After Monday night, Russ secured a triple-double average on the season for the fourth time in his career. Only Oscar Robertson has done it once before (1962). The Big ‘O’ finished his career with an NBA record 181 triple-doubles. Westbrook (178) is about to break it.

Watch: Russell Westbrook Makes NBA History With Rare 20-20 Stat Line

Other NBA Highlights

Carmelo Cracks the Top-10: With 14 points in a loss on Monday night, Carmelo Anthony passed Elvin Hayes for 10th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list (27,318 points). The record-breaking basket came on an and-one 3-pointer in the first half.

Lakers Snap Losing Streak: Anthony Davis took over late in the 4th quarter to give the Lakers a win over the Nuggets (93-89) that ended their three-game losing streak. They’re just 3-7 in their last 10 games.

Sixers Stay Hot: The 76ers had all five starters in double figures in Monday’s win over the Bulls (106-94). It was Philly’s league-leading fifth-straight win as they remain atop the Eastern Conference.

Manchester United Fans Protested Ownership, But They Also Delayed Their Rivals’ Trophy Celebration

There’s more than meets the eye when it comes to one of the weekend’s top story at Old Trafford. When Manchester United fans broke onto the pitch before Sunday’s match with Liverpool, they were showing their displeasure with Man-U ownership, particularly in regards to the recent Super League disruption that took over Europe. But there’s more…

Sunday’s match was inevitably postponed, but it was a crucial moment for another team from Manchester. Manchester City had already beaten Crystal Palace on Saturday (2-0) and could’ve clinched the Premier League title with a Man-U loss. And while that may offer some gamesmanship to the story, protests quickly got out of hand. More than 1,000 fans invaded the pitch, and multiple officers were injured during confrontations.

If the match isn’t rescheduled for a mid-week turnaround, Man-City can clinch the EPL title Saturday against Chelsea (12:30 pm ET).

Additional Storylines

NY Times: In Anti-Ownership Protests, United Fans Rediscover Their Own Power

The Guarding: United Fans: “Our Plan Was to Get the Game Delayed or Abandoned”

 THE HIGHLIGHTS

️ MLB: Cardinals Catch Fire Off Arenado’s Bat

The Cardinals are the hottest team in baseball as the calendar turns to May. They beat the Mets last night (6-5) for their fifth-straight win thanks to Nolan Arenado’s three-run blast in the third inning.

 NHL: Oilers Clinch, McDavid Taps 90 Points

The Edmonton Oilers became the 12th team to secure their spot in the NHL Playoffs with a 5-3 win over the Canucks on Monday. Connor McDavid notched four points (two goals, two assists) to lift his season total to 91.

THE STORYLINES 

 The 2022 NFL Draft’s Most Intriguing Player

Meet Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon’s defensive superstar and the 2022 NFL Draft’s most intriguing player who will have NFL evaluators in the palm of his large hands if he delivers as expected during his junior season. (CBS Sports)

 Debating the NBA Play-In Tournament

LeBron James may not like the idea of a play-in game now that his Lakers are in danger of being among its participants, but the jockeying among teams for the NBA’s first annual play-in tournament seems to have captured much attention around the league. (Bleacher Report)

️ The Astros 1st Trip Back to the Bronx

Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker has witnessed just about everything imaginable in the 5,627 games he has managed and played in his baseball career, but beginning at 1 p.m. ET Tuesday when he boards the team bus from their New York midtown hotel, he’s bracing for an atmosphere of loathe and hatred… “It’s going to be wild.” (USA Today)

 THE HEADLINES

LeBron James Rips NBA’s Play-In Format With Lakers 5th in West

(ESPN)

Atlanta Dream’s Nicki Collen Takes Over as Next Head Coach of Baylor Women’s Basketball

(CBS Sports)

3-Time Indy 500 Winner Bobby Unser Dies at Age 87

(AP News)

Ohio State WR Jameson Williams Transfers to Alabama

(USA Today)

Dodgers Pitcher Dustin May Out for Season to Undergo Tommy John Surgery

(Yahoo! Sports)

Seahawks WR D.K. Metcalf Enters 100M at USA Track & Field Event in Pursuit of Olympics

(NBC Sports)