In a fast-paced back-and-forth game in Portland, the Oklahoma City Thunder pulled out one of their best victories of the season, a 111-107 OT win over the Trail Blazers.
The Thunder overcame a six-point deficit in the final two minutes of regulation to force an extra period, although their comeback wasn't without controversy, as LaMarcus Aldridge's rejection of Kevin Durant's lay-up attempt in the game's final minute was called goaltending in what can only be construed as a late Christmas gift for Oklahoma City fans.
The game featured high-scoring efforts from three of the NBA's young stars, Aldridge, Durant and Westbrook, all of whom scored at least 28 points in a preview of what should be an incredibly tight competition for a spot in the 2012 Olympic team.
While Portland was able to control the pace of the game with Aldridge's low-post scoring ability, their inability to grab a crucial defensive rebound in the game's final seconds proved their undoing, as Aldridge's goal-tending call came after three offensive boards for the Thunder.
With less than 10 seconds left, Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan drew up a play that gave Nicolas Batum an open driving lane to the rim, only for Westbrook to make one of the great defensive plays of the year, reaching back across his body in mid-air to block Batum's lay-up attempt with time expiring.