<|begin_of_text|><|begin_of_text|><|begin_of_text|>Russell Westbrook was long gone before the final horn sounded on Tuesday night.
So was one of the longest running basketball debates in this city.
Both were chased off by Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum.
The Thunder’s All-Star guard<wm> and his sixth man had started to quietly rise.
Westbrook led the team to the series lead but his work was done by Tuesday evening.
No matter where his journey ends it remains one of the longest NBA Finals droughts in franchise history, with the first lasting from 1951-1958 and 1959-1969. Lillard had started 11 games but it ends 7-3 against the Nuggets. McCollum was held in check in his series. Westbrook scored six points</wm> and recorded seven assists, with one steal in his series. Lillard had seven assists, with one