It couldn’t have come at a better time.

Earlier this year, during the 2012-2013 NBA Postseason, the Oklahoma City Thunder were heavily favored to represent the Western Conference once again in the NBA Finals, and after taking a commanding 3-0 lead on the Houston Rockets–the team for which one of their star players, James Harden, left to play for–it appeared that that prediction would most likely be actualized. However, on a freakish play, Rockets point guard Patrick Beverly ended Westbrook’s season, knocking knees with him, and forcing him out of commission for the rest of the playoffs. The Thunder went on to squeeze past the Rockets in 6 games but were demolished by the Grizzlies in the next round in 5.

Westbrook would end up needing two knee surgeries just to get his body back in game-shape, and his prognosis left little hope that he would be back in the starting lineup until mid-December. However, in a turn of events just as freakish as the one that initially sidelined him, Westbrook passed all his medical examinations a month early, and was cleared to play, which he did, last night. The WC All-Star finished the game with 21 points and 7 assists, and looked as if he didn’t miss a beat with his running partner, Kevin Durant.

-Khari Nixon (@KingVanGogh)