NBA on Dec. 5: Oklahoma storm back to beat Brooklyn

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Oklahoma City Thunder overcame a 23-point deficit to defeat the Brooklyn Nets 114-112 at the Barclays Center on Wednesday, thanks to Paul George who put down 25 points in the last quarter.

Russell Westbrook also had a night to remember, taking the 108th triple-double of his career, on the way passing Jason Kidd to rank No.3 in NBA history.

Paul George makes the hero in Brooklyn

Paul George celebrates another basket on the way to scoring 47 points, including 25 in the last quarter, to help Oklahoma City Thunder storm back to defeat the Brooklyn Nets 114-112. /VCG Photo

Though the Nets had lost seven straight games before Wednesday, the team were leading for most of the game by over 15 points. Things started to change in the fourth quarter when George became unstoppable. He first dropped three consecutive shots from the 3-pt line and then scored all the last five points for Thunder, including a game-winning three-pointer in the last five seconds.

George in total scored 47 points, 15 rebounds and four assists and his 25 points in the last quarter was the highest since OKC moved from Seattle to Oklahoma City. Meanwhile, according to Tencent Sports, this was the first time George had made a game-winning shot in the last 10 seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime, after missing all his previous 14 shots.

Russell Westbrook gives instructions to his teammates in the game. /VCG Photo

This game also included a big moment for Westbrook who put down 21 points, 15 rebounds and 17 assists, the 108th triple-double that put him No.3 in the league's history, only after Magic Johnson (138) and Oscar Robertson (181). However, the new record did not cover his flaws in the game. As a player who has never been good at 3-pt shooting, Westbrook shot nine times from the 3-pt line but made only two. Meanwhile, he seemed to forget about his biggest weapon in offense-penetrating to attack the rim-which was proved by the fact that he only got two free throws.

Raptors hit 76ers where it hurts

Kyle Lowry (L) and Kawhi Leonard (R) celebrate as the Toronto Raptors beat the Philadelphia 76ers 113-102. /VCG Photo

In a game between two top teams in the Eastern Conference, the Toronto Raptors and the Philadelphia 76ers, the Raptors triumphed 113-102 at home, putting an end to Philadelphia's four straight wins.

The two teams both had weaknesses for each other to exploit. Toronto did not have a real match player for Joel Embiid while Philadelphia lacked shooters. The 76ers started by attacking the restricted area which paid off as they led 29-23 after the first quarter. The Raptors responded by double-teaming Embiid and going more aggressively in defense. Such tactics worked as they forced 11 turnovers by Philadelphia and kept the game at a rapid pace, which not only disrupted their rivals' rhythm but consumed a lot of Embiid's strength.

Joel Embiid #21 of the 76ers under the defense of Jonas Valanciunas #17 and Fred VanVleet #23 of the Raptors /VCG Photo

Toronto in the second half gave Jonas Valanciunas more time on the court to let him put more physical fights with Embiid in the paint while cutting connections among the 76ers players to isolate them. In the end, Philadelphia became lost in offense and wasted Jimmy Butler's 38 points and had to accept their loss at the Scotiabank Arena.

This game showed the 76ers how far they are from becoming a champion candidate. Ben Simmons is good and is incredible in transition offense, not orchestrating in slow-paced games in which his lack of shooting range will hurt the team's offense. Philadelphia need a real point guard who knows how and when to pass the ball to the right player. They also require more shooters so they can make the rivals' defense pay when they try to double-team Embiid.

Ben Simmons #25 of the 76ers confronting Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Raptors in offense. /VCG Photo

While the Raptors should be happy about their victory, what the team's point guard Kyle Lowry said before the game soured the win. In an interview with ESPN's Rachel Nichols, Lowry said, "Ah, (Masai Ujiri, the team's president) he's the president of basketball operations. And that's it. I mean, I come here and I do my job…He does his job, I do my job. Right? That's what you do."

Such statement would give Toronto's PR extra working time and apparently Lowry was still unhappy about the trade that sent DeMar DeRozan away for Kawhi Leonard. "I felt betrayed because he felt betrayed because that is my guy. That's my best friend. So yeah, I felt some kind of way on the personal side. But the business side, you understand that you got to go out here and do your job. You get a trade, your job is still to go out there and play," said Lowry.

Kyle Lowry #7 standing with DeMar DeRozan #10 who was sent to the San Antonio Spurs in summer. /VCG Photo

In response, Ujiri told ESPN that his relations with Lowry are not hostile and he admitted that trading DeRozan was a tough decision to make. "…In our position, we have to do them, and we have to deal with them," said Ujiri.

The deal to introduce Leonard and Danny Green proved very successful as the Raptors currently rank No.1 in the Eastern Conference with a winning rate of 80 percent (21wins and five losses), higher than any team in the Western Conference. Lowry adapted himself well as he could deliver 10.3 assists per game, way better than his career average (5.9) and previous best season (7.4). However, as the team's longest-serving player, Lowry's remarks carry weight, especially when they are not what the team's management wants to hear.

Other results on Wednesday: (away teams come first)

Golden State Warriors 129-105 Cleveland Cavaliers

Denver Nuggets 124-118 Orlando Magic

Washington Wizards 131-117 Atlanta Hawks

Los Angeles Clippers 86-96 Memphis Grizzlies

Detroit Pistons 92-115 Milwaukee Bucks

Charlotte Hornets 104-121 Minnesota Timberwolves

Dallas Mavericks 106-132 New Orleans Pelicans

San Antonio Spurs 113-121 Los Angeles Lakers