Triple Overtime in Newark!

In one word, it was electric. On December 1, 2010 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, the New Jersey Nets took on the Oklahoma City Thunder in what some are calling "one of the best NBA games, ever." Kevin Durant, the NBA's defending leading scorer, sat out of this epic game between Durant's team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the New Jersey Nets.

With Durant sitting helplessly on the sidelines, it was necessary for someone else on the Thunder to step up his game. That man's name is Russell Westbrook (0) of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who dazzled the crowd with a show-stopping performance of 38 points, 15 rebounds, and 9 assists in the game. In the third overtime, Westbrook scored all 13 of the Thunder's points, bringing his team to an Oklahoma City 123, New Jersey 120 win.

The win marked the first triple overtime win in the Thunder's franchise history.

The last time the Nets went into triple overtime was at Orlando, in 1995.
The Thunder came out at halftime trailing by five, and went on to an 11-2 run four minutes into the third quarter. Then Oklahoma City point guard Jeff Green scored 7 of his 10 third quarter points in the final 2:25 of the third to give the Thunder a 71-62 lead.
Then New Jersey came back with an 11-3 run as time ticked away in the fourth quarter.

Oklahoma City connected on four free throws to regain the lead, then a step-into three by Anthony Morrow of the Nets tied the score and sent this one into OT.

Without Durant, Green stepped up his game as well. Green scored a career high 37 points, and connecting on three free throws as the clock wound down during the second overtime, with the score Thunder 107, Nets 110 that made me bite my nails until they bled, sending the game into triple overtime.

Lopez and Morrow of the Nets fought valiantly to even the score as the multiple overtime game developed into a spectacular offensive display on both sides of the board.

Serge Ibaka for the Oklahoma City Thunder fouled out, leaving the spotlight to shift to Westbrook, who put on an amazing one-man display of 13 straight points in the third overtime, leaving the Net's heads spinning.

A game that could have easily went into four of five overtimes ended with a final score of 123-120, Oklahoma City.

-C.T. Minardi