BIG FLAME: Russell Westbrook balance Michael Jordan’s record as makes NBA history in Nuggets-Knicks

The Denver Nuggets were blown out by the New York Knicks on Monday night by a final score of 145-118. It was a poor showing for many Denver players, as even three-time MVP Nikola Jokic did not reach his usual production.

Denver was led in scoring by 17-year veteran Russell Westbrook who had 27 points off the bench. Westbrook scored 24 of those points in the fourth quarter, which was the highest-scoring quarter of his Hall of Fame career.

This fourth quarter for Westbrook also made NBA history. With his dominant final frame, Westbrook joined Michael Jordan and Jamal Crawford as just the third player at least 36-years-old with 24 points or more in a single quarter (via Basketball Reference’s StatHead).

The NBA’s quarter-specific data only goes back to the 1996-97 season, but Westbrook, Crawford, and Jordan are the only players since then to have at least 24 points in a quarter at age 36 or older. Jordan did so at age 38 when he had 24 points in the first quarter against the Charlotte Hornets. Crawford achieved the feat at age 39 when he had 26 points in the fourth quarter against the Dallas Mavericks in 2019.

Westbrook’s inclusion on this outstanding list is only one example of how he made history against New York. According to StatHead, Westbrook tied Hall of Fame forward John Havlicek for the 30th most 25-point games in NBA history with his 405th career 25-point performance.

Still playing at a high level in his 17th season, Westbrook had been a great signing for the Nuggets.