It almost felt like a downer that he wasn’t able to make history this game, but the man put up 45 points, 10 assists, nine rebounds and five steals, and wait, I’m not done yet. Westbrook also scored a clutch 3-pointer to put OKC up, 101-97, with 14 seconds left, and he made the final points of the game (two free throws with less than a second remaining to seal the 103-100 victory). It’s impossible for NBA fans to be disappointed with that.

　　After his team’s loss, Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale had a hilarious comment about Westbrook coming up one rebound short of the triple-double record. He knows the potential MVP had one heck of a game.

　　David Fizdale Pure Sarcasm Mode: "We held him from getting a triple-double. Take that Russell Westbrook."— Erik Horne (@ErikHorneOK) April 6, 2017

　　While we all wait to see if Westbrook will break the record in OKC’s next game on Friday vs. the Suns in Phoenix, here are five amazing things about the Thunder guard:

　　1. His 45-point game means he continues to make it less and less likely that any other player will ever wear a Thunder jersey and have as many 40-point games as he has had this season

　　Russell Westbrook: 17th 40-pt game of the season, extending what is already a franchise record for most in a single season— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 6, 2017

　　2. He tied James Harden for an NBA record

　　Russell Westbrook: 8th game this season with 40 points, 10 assists, tied with James Harden for the most such games in the NBA.— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 6, 2017

　　3. He’s this close to averaging a triple-double

　　Oscar Robertson told USA TODAY Sports’ Sam Amick that he hopes Westbrook is able to average a triple-double this season so that everyone can just call the OKC guard the “triple-double king.”

　　Westbrook needs six assists on Friday against the Suns to lock up averaging a triple-double.— Royce Young (@royceyoung) April 6, 2017

　　Russell Westbrook’s next game is vs Suns on Friday. He’s averaging 41.7 PPG, 13.7 RPG and 13.7 APG in three games against them this season— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 6, 2017

　　4. These tweets just show how unbelievable this season has been for Westbrook, stats-wise

　　2nd time this season that Russell Westbrook has finished 1 rebound shy of a triple-double. He also did it against the Bulls on Jan. 9— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 6, 2017

　　If you’re wondering, Westbrook has had seven games this season where he’s been either a rebound or assist short of a triple-double.— Royce Young (@royceyoung) April 6, 2017

　　5. Not only has Westbrook had a record-tying number of triple-doubles this season (so far), he has put them up in bunches like no one ever has before

　　Russell Westbrook is the 1st player in @NBAHistory with 2 streaks of 7 consecutive triple-doubles in one season. #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/N41gQTVUww— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) April 5, 2017

　　Now, I know what you’re all thinking: “So, is Westbrook going to win the MVP award or what?”

　　Well, here’s what Robertson, the man whose record Westbrook is trying to break, had to say about that to USA TODAY Sports‘ Amick:

　　“I can say this without blinking, that what Russell Westbrook has done truly – even (though the Houston Rockets’ James) Harden is close to him – but what he’s done, he’s got to be the MVP of the league.”

　　.@Sam_Amick talked to Oscar Robertson about the historic season Russell Westbrook is having. The Big O also explains why Russ should be MVP. pic.twitter.com/ghM3JdjrXA— USA TODAY Sports (@USATODAYsports) April 6, 2017