Thunder roar back from 25-point 3rd-quarter deficit to keep season alive

The Oklahoma City Thunder saved their season Wednesday night in the most dramatic way imaginable.

Trailing the Utah Jazz 3-1 in the first round, down 71-46 four minutes into the third quarter of Game 5, the Thunder suddenly came alive. Led by an incendiary Russell Westbrook, they outscored the Jazz 61-28 the rest of the way to force a Game 6 in Utah. The comeback is tied for the third largest in NBA playoff history.

Westbrook started the charge, splashing a pair of pull-up threes, and Paul George got in on the act with a pair of driving layups. The Thunder started ramping up their defensive energy, the lane opened up for them when Rudy Gobert had to sit with foul trouble, and before you could blink, a small tremor begat an avalanche. The game was tied before the end of the third quarter.

Westbrook and George combined for 54 of those final 61 points, and the other seven all came off Westbrook assists. The reigning MVP played the entire second half, hit five of his nine 3-point attempts for the game, and finished with 45 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists. George finished with 34 points, eight boards, two assists, two steals, and a block.